[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
(meteorobs) The Draconids: questions
Lew Gramer wrote:
>There is also ANOTHER meteor shower which has the possibility to storm
>this >year: the "Giacobinids" or "Draconids" shower, which reaches maximum
>around >October 8. Again, predictions for a storm can't be confirmed till
>the event.
The Draconids shower has been a favorite and most intriguing to me for
some years even though I have never recorded one yet.
I recall some years ago, I spent a whole day with a friend searching in
libraries to dig up any past observations and data about this shower.
Draconids lit up the sky with brief, intense storms in 1933 and 1946.
It was also detected by radio observations in more recent years.
Being aware of a 6.5 period of activity relating with comet
Giacobini-Zinner, I expected a possible return for this shower in 1992.
Nothing was seen from me that year. The closest I came was in 1994. On
the early evening of October 7/8 of that year, I took a glance at the sky
for
a few minutes to check the weather conditions. Within 20 minutes, I noted
3 slow meteors coming out of Draco's "head". I scrambled back inside to
set
up for a full meteor watch, went back outside about 45 minutes later.
Nothing else was seen coming from that area the remainder of the night.
On October 9/10 1993, I saw a -1 meteor travel slowly down to the MW.
With the comet only about 44 days ahead of the Earth, this year presents
ideal conditions to try to see this shower. This might be the #2 shower
to go after for those who really cant make it for Leonids. Unfortunately,
the
moon will interfere that night. Also, I think the peak is very short with
heightened activity lasting no more than half an hour and then, nothing!
This shower is very easy to miss!
Does anyone know when exactly the peak is "expected" to occure this year?
Which part of the world has the best chance to see it?
Is there any past data/observations (previous years such as 1933 and 46)
that could help determine the accuracy of those predictions ?
Finally, did anyone in the world see any sign of activity last year
around October 8-10 ?
Thanks!
Pierre Martin
Ottawa, Ontario, CAN
Graphic Designer (National Aviation Museum)
Visual meteor observer
****************************
Ottawa Astro Observers Group
****************************
Follow-Ups: