Stargazers just might have another reason to look up the skies at night as October brings a minor and major meteor shower events this month.
The Draconid meteor shower is expected to happen on Oct. 8 during night time, with varying number of meteors showing up. A few meteors can be seen per hour or can appear in a mass of about hundreds of meteors.
The Draconid appearances are irregular; there are years when they don't show up at all. Two of the most memorable Draconid meteor showers happened in 1933 and 1946, when more than 500 meteors per hour showed up in the night sky.
Another remarkable event for the Draconids happened in 2011. Although the moonlight downed their appearance during its peak, radar images exhibited a beautiful shower featuring more than 300 meteors per hour.
The best way to spot a Draconid is to go to a dark place, far from the city lights if possible, so that it does not interfere with your stargazing. Spotting the meteor should prove to be easy. No special equipment is required because you can readily see with your eyes. It is also suggested to prepare to be comfortable, because it might take some time before the Draconids can be spotted. Draconids are one of the slower meteors. Those who are patient enough will surely enjoy a wonderful display of cosmic wonder.
According to Paul Morgan of NR Today, the meteor shower will be at its peak at 8 p.m. PST and will end at 11 p.m. PST.
Draconid meteors are said to be linked to the Comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, a short-lived comet that makes its orbit around the Sun every 6.6 years.
Another cosmic event is scheduled this October. Orionid, a major meteor shower, will take place in the morning of Oct. 22. The moon is expected to shine bright just after midnight, so it is best to do your meteor shower hunting during that time until just before dusk. Orionids usually show up in groups of 15 to 20 meteors per hour.
