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Monday, October 8, 2012

Draconid meteor shower reaches peak activity on Monday



Draconid meteor shower on Monday to reach peak activity, although this time, astronomers do not expect a "star storm" as last year, but it is possible that this meteor shower will present scientists surprises. Meteors occur when the atmosphere and there are burn microscopic dust particles. Meteor streams or Star rain associated with the passage of the Earth through the dust, who reserves the comet.


Draconid meteor shower on Monday to reach peak activity, although this time, astronomers do not expect a "star storm" as last year, but it is possible that this meteor shower will present scientists surprises.

Meteors occur when the atmosphere and there are burn microscopic dust particles. Meteor streams or Star rain associated with the passage of the Earth through the dust, who reserves the comet. The name Draconid stream received in connection with the fact that from the point of view of the ground observer shooting stars flying out of the constellation Draco. Its "parent" is the comet Dzhakobini-Zinner (21P/Giacobini-Zinner), opened in 1900.

According to the International Meteor Organization, the period of Draconid this year - from 6 to 10 October, with peak activity should come to 16.15 MSK on October 8. Astronomers say that this year the Moon, which is in phase last quarter, will not interfere with the observations as much as in 2011.

Draconid known for their "fickle-minded" - in some years the number of shooting stars at the peak of activity is around 10-20 per hour, but sometimes it reaches 700-800 meteors per hour. Thus, in 2011, the number of meteors in the maximum reached 800 per hour.

Star storms astronomers recorded in those years when the comet Dzhakobini-Zinner passed perihelion - the closest point to the Sun's orbit. This year, the star of the storm is not expected; however, it is possible that there may be outbursts.

Draconid meteors are relatively slow - about 20 kilometers per second, so they can be easily distinguished from the other meteor streams.

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