The Draconids meteor shower is usually mild, with about 10 meteors per hour, but there have been instances of intense displays with thousands of meteors per hour.
According to data collected in Ho Chi Minh City from Time and Date, the Draconids meteor shower will peak on the night of October 8 into the early morning of October 9.
The name Draconids comes from the constellation from which the meteors appear to originate: the dragon constellation Draco.
Draconids Meteor Shower – (Photo: EARTHSKY)
Therefore, according to Earthsky, to observe the Draconids meteor shower, look for the dragon-shaped constellation in the sky. The dragon Draco will appear to soar above the two well-known constellations, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The dragon’s eyes are represented by the two relatively bright stars, Rastaban and Eltanin, which are also the points from which the meteors emanate.
Sky Map to Identify the Draco Constellation and the Dragon’s Eyes – (Photo: EARTHSKY)
According to Time and Date, the source of the meteor shower is the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, which orbits the sun every 6.6 years. Each October, Earth passes through the dusty tail of this comet, creating a meteor shower that lasts for several days. This year, the meteor shower will occur from October 6 to October 10.
The Draconids, also known as Giacobinids, are considered the most unpredictable meteor shower. This year, astronomers predict it will be gentle, similar to most years, with only 10 meteors per hour. However, in 1933 and 1946, the Draconids astonished observers with spectacular “outbursts,” reaching thousands of meteors per hour. It erupted again in 2011 with around 600 meteors per hour.
