Who will win the cosmic clash of hunter (moon) vs. dragon (meteor)?
On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8 and 9, the skies over Earth will glimmer with flaming space rocks and dust during the annual Draconid meteor shower. Unfortunately, the full Hunter's Moon, which peaks on the same nights, will largely outshine this year's shooting star spectacle.
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through the clouds of rocky debris left behind by comets. During the Draconids, our planet collides with millions of small, icy rocks left by the comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, which passes through our solar system and crosses Earth's orbit once every 6.5 years, according to NASA.
As those little"comet crumbs" tumble through Earth's atmosphere by the thousands, some visibly catch fire and streak through the sky, officially becoming meteors. Most of these space rocks burn up long before reaching the planet's surface, though a select few may be large enough to survive the descent and hit the ground as meteorites.While the meteors we see during showers are actually right above us in the atmosphere, they appear to be coming from distant constellations.
In a typical year, skywatchers can expect to see 10 to 20 meteors per hour during the Draconids, according to NASA. However, this month's full moon will likely outshine most of them. For the best chance at catching some meteors, head to the darkest place you can find and let your eyes adjust to the darkness there for at least 30 minutes.
No telescope or binoculars are necessary to catch the show in our planet's atmosphere. But if you’re angling to get a closer look at the moon, or to up your stargazing game in general, here are the best telescopes for every skill level.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
The full Hunter's Moon could outshine a 'dragon' meteor shower on Oct. 9October's full moon peaks during the Draconid meteor shower.
Weiterlesen »
See the mysterious October Camelopardalid meteor shower peak tonight (Oct. 6)The October Camelopardalids aren't particularly bright, but they're a curiosity worth trying to see.
Weiterlesen »
Taurid meteor shower 2022: When, where & how to see itThe Taurids might put on quite the show this year.
Weiterlesen »
Taurid meteor shower 2022: When, where & how to see itThe Taurids might put on quite the show this year.
Weiterlesen »
‘The Walking Dead’: How to Watch the Final Season Without CableFreddy Krueger’s zombie doppelgänger made a cameo in Sunday’s (Oct. 2) premiere episode. Here’s how cord cutters can watch season 11 online.
Weiterlesen »
Google event Oct. 2022 live updates: Pixel 7, 7 Pro, Watch | Digital TrendsGoogle's Pixel 7, 7 Pro, and Pixel Watch are being announced today. Follow along as we share our thoughts with live coverage.
Weiterlesen »