Experts state that spectators will be able to see between 10 to 20 shooting stars per hour when Draconid reaches its beak on October 7 and 9, providing it is a relatively clear night and you are away from major sources of light pollution. Saturday, October 7, is set to be cloudy, but the skies will be cleared on the Sunday evening.
The best place to see the meteor shower in the UK will be from Scotland, while Canada and northern Russia will also provide great viewing. No equipment will be needed to see the shooting stars as, if it is clear, it can be seen with the naked eye.
Space weather site earthsky.org said:
“Unlike most meteor showers, the Draconids are best seen in the evening, instead of before dawn. That’s because the winged Dragon, the shower’s radiant point, flies highest in the sky at nightfall.”
Shooting stars in the Draconid Meteor shower are caused when the Earth travels through the trail of debris left by Comet 21/P Giacobini-Zinner which has an orbital period around the sun of 6.6 years.
Small parts that have chipped away from the space rock fall towards Earth as it travels through the cloud left by the comet. As the tiny fragments of rocks enter Earth’s atmosphere they burn up which is what gives the illusion of shooting stars. Earthsky.org says that there could be even more shooting stars than usual.
It said:
“Thisshower has been known to rain down hundreds or even thousands of meteors in anhour. No outburst is predicted for this year, but then, you never know for sure. Remember – no matter where you are on Earth – the radiant for this meteor shower is highest up in the evening. Watch for the Draconids, starting at nightfall on October 7 and 8.”