October 8th Earth will plow through stream of dust from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner

Oct. 4, 2011: On October 8th Earth is going to plow through a stream of dust from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, and the result could be an outburst of Draconid meteors.

"We're predicting as many as 750 meteors per hour," says Bill Cooke of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "The timing of the shower favors observers in the Middle East, north Africa and parts of Europe."

Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner in Nov. 1998 photographed by astronomers at Kitt Peak.

 

Every 6.6 years Comet Giacobini-Zinner swings through the inner solar system. With each visit, it lays down a narrow filament of dust, over time forming a network of filaments that Earth encounters every year in early October.

"Most years, we pass through gaps between filaments, maybe just grazing one or two as we go by," says Cooke. "Occasionally, though, we hit one nearly head on--and the fireworks begin."

2011 could be such a year. Forecasters at NASA and elsewhere agree that Earth is heading for three or more filaments on October 8th. Multiple encounters should produce a series of variable outbursts beginning around 1600 Universal Time (noon EDT) with the strongest activity between 1900 and 2100 UT (3:00 pm – 5:00 pm EDT).

Forecasters aren't sure how strong the display will be, mainly because the comet had a close encounter with Jupiter in the late 1880s. At that time, the giant planet's gravitational pull altered the comet's orbit and introduced some uncertainty into the location of filaments it has shed since then. Competing models place the filaments in slightly different spots; as a result, estimated meteor rates range from dozens to hundreds per hour.

science1.nasa.gov... onids/

reply to post by grindhouzer


Well it sounds like it will be more interesting than Elenin... I will keep my eyes pealed..

oh so disappointed they didnt mention eastern canada as a good spot to view. That would be awesome to see.
2nd

Totally fascinated by space but not much understanding if i am totally honest.

Can someone explain what this actually means please? Is it going to be a good light show or should i be digging down?

The comet's tail contains bio organisms and virus's that are gonna plague earth! omg its the end of the world!!!!!! lol elenin all over again!!

Um, 750 meteors an hour?
So, after, will our earth be more pockmarked than our moon?:

Maybe you find here something intresting ..

www.abovetopsecret.com...

reply to post by Flavian


Well I've experienced this about 6 times in my lifetime, some even more.
Worried no...Annoyed that the moon will likely wreck the lightshow...Yes...
But it'll probably be cloudy anyway.

reply to post by grindhouzer


your link is dead Op I tried to click and got a nasa 404

If this event is to happen, i feel bad for asthmatics and people with major lung problems, as the air is bad enough (2% of each breath is actually oxygen) I believ this happened a few years back now, but not as bad as what i believe could happen soon.

reply to post by grindhouzer


Yeah saw it on your Dutch news site.
I wanted to see for my self, but the weahter forcast predicts rain and clouds the whole weekend Doubt i would see any of it.

According to our Astronomy Center here, the 'highlight' of the evening will be Saturday around 22:00 Dutch time with up to 10 'falling stars' a minute!

Damn sucky dutch weather!!!

reply to post by Suspiria


Thanks for the answer. Will keep the shovel in the shed for now then and dig out the deck chair and telescope instead

reply to post by thebelieverufo


Really? Why?
This has no effects on health at all.

So is north amreica going to get any of this?

Would be nice to see.