Astronomer predicts dramatic Draconid meteor shower for October 8, 2011

Will be very nice to watch and make some photo or video0 ..



earthsky.org...
Oct 04, 2011

Canadian astronomer Paul Wiegert announced earlier in 2011 that the annual Draconid meteor shower might produce a brief meteor storm of 1,000 meteors per hour on October 8, 2011. He said the 2011 Draconid outburst could be expected to occur between 17 and 18 UTC on October 8. This translates into between noon and 1 p.m.
Central Daylight Time on October 8 in the U.S. – daylight in North America. Because this shower’s radiant point in the constellation Draco is so far north on the sky’s dome, the shower will be visible primarily in the northern hemisphere. Plus Draco is highest in the sky during the evening hours. Thus the best locations from which to view the shower – according to Wiegert’s May-June 2011 prediction – should be Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

The shower is expected to continue to produce meteors, albeit it at a reduced level, into the North American evening of October 8. So North Americans might still have a chance to see the meteor shower. A shower of 1,000 meteors per hour would be spectacular indeed. Woot?! Not yet.
Wiegert admits that meteor predictions are not ironclad. He said: … you never know. Meteor showers are as difficult to predict as rain showers. The Draconids have surprised us before, and they may do so again. I’d encourage anyone outside on the night of October the 8 to look to the northern skies, just in case.

There is another major factor. The moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase on October 8. It will be in the sky – large and bright – when the sun goes down on October 8 as seen from around the world. As all meteor-watchers know, a large bright moon will drown all but the brightest meteors in its glare. That means the predicted rates of 1,000 meteors per hour will be severely diminished by the moon, no matter where you are on Earth.

The Draconid Meteor Shower – A Storm is Coming

www.universetoday.com...
Oct 03, 2011

The Draconids are coming! Will this meteor shower produce a storm of observable meteors, or just a minor squall? The Draconid Meteor Show should begin on October 8, 2011 starting at dusk (roughly 19:00 BST) and continue through the evening.

Peak activity of this normally minor and quiet shower is estimated to be at 21:00 BST (20:00 UT). There seems to be a wide range of predictions for this year’s shower, but some astronomers believe there could be up to 1,000 meteors per hour, making this a meteor storm!

Hyperactive Draconid meteor shower peaks this week
www.msnbc.msn.com...

"It's not going to be that dramatic," said Bill Cooke of the Meteoroid Environment Office at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. "People in North America aren't going to see anything."

meteorshowersonline.com...



Meteor shower guide for 2011
earthsky.org...

more doom and gloom. Guess will find out if we're still here after the 8th. I'll make sure to have my camera ready.

I've been waiting for this all year! I hope it's as impressive as they have been claiming, otherwise I want a refund!

I wonder if we lose any satellites?!

st.

Thank you for the timely reminder. Earth is once again going to pass through a comet's debris trail. Grab a thermos of hot chocolate and enjoy the show. I intend to!

reply to post by Manhater


For once there is no doom and gloom in this.
Just what will most likely turn out to be a cloudy night.

Originally posted by pazcat
reply to post by Manhater

 

For once there is no doom and gloom in this.
Just what will most likely turn out to be a cloudy night.

Yep, totally agree. Every time there's suppose to be a shower around here it's either cloudy or raining. lol Hopefully, I get to see some action.

reply to post by Dalke07


sounds fun..does this mean they are visable now?
any idea of how big some are?

Even if it's cloud free the Moon is going to was out all but the brightest of these meteors which are normally very weak anyway.
Still I hope some people get lucky. The timing of the peak isn't brilliant either.

nice post.

Battle Los Angeles any one ?

no really cant wait for this one , and will be watching it

thanx for the reminder S&F

Except it wont be, unless you are watching from the other side of the moon.

There is another major factor. The moon will be in a waxing gibbous phase on October 8. It will be in the sky – large and bright – when the sun goes down on October 8 as seen from around the world. As all meteor-watchers know, a large bright moon will drown all but the brightest meteors in its glare. That means the predicted rates of 1,000 meteors per hour will be severely diminished by the moon, no matter where you are on Earth.

Last night i see one of most beautiful meter in my life, hi was all blue and fell to 3 blue pieces ..

This picture is closes what I find on net but tail was all blue ..

Did not look like some bright line, he burn very close ..

DRACONID METEOR OUTBURST:

19.11 UTC

DRACONID METEOR OUTBURST: On October 8th, Earth will pass through a network of dusty filaments shed by Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. Forecasters expect the encounter to produce anywhere from a few dozen to a thousand meteors per hour visible mainly over Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. The meteors will stream from the northern constellation Draco--hence their name, the "Draconids." Peak rates should occur between 1600 UT and 2200 UT (noon - 6 pm EDT) as Earth grazes a series of filaments nearly intersecting our planet's orbit. Analysts at the NASA Meteoroid Environment Office prepared this plot showing how the meteor rate is likely to vary:

spaceweather.com...

This is really not all that atypical.

One sector of a given science predicts an event worth the effort to witness and another, usually NASA or the MSM's Oberg, reminds us that there will be nothing to see because we live in this horribly boring universe and that our time would be better spent planting our faces into a bowl of breakfast oatmeal to break the monotony.

It'd be cool if people come across any night sky cams from around the globe to post them, I have been searching but with little success. Also the weather is terrible in this part of Europe today/tonight.
I did find this though from China I believe.

China ustream

Is it happening yet? It's noon time. I can't see nothing.

Hope some people can get some images.

Be really cool to see.

reply to post by redoubt

One sector of a given science predicts an event worth the effort to witness and another, usually NASA or the MSM's Oberg, reminds us that there will be nothing to see because we live in this horribly boring universe and that our time would be better spent planting our faces into a bowl of breakfast oatmeal to break the monotony.

Actually, you got it exactly wrong way around. Usually a scientist will point to some awe inspiring phenomenon, say a comet, eclipse or a meteor shower and no one will pry their face out of their TV screen until some wacko screams that its a presage of the end of the world.

reply to post by Dalke07


Shame we won't see anything here in England! Its been hot and cloud free for the past few weeks but now, when it matters, its completely over cast!



ALS

The clouds have been thick here but I managed to see 2 in the gaps of the clouds, it should of peaked by now. I have read a ZHR of 1032. I'll still battle the clouds for a bit then off to bed I think.

i'm in the city but looking forward to videos of what you guys caught a glimse of!

dont forget to make a wish.. or a few