Meteor shower peaks tonight: Can Vietnamese people see the 'fireball'?

According to the Hanoi Astronomical Society (HAS), tonight, October 8, the Draconids meteor shower will reach its peak. This is a meteor shower that occurs annually from October 6 to 10.

Meteor showers are interesting phenomena for astronomy lovers.

PHOTO: THANH TUNG

Observing conditions for the Draconids meteor shower this year are poor due to the crescent moon being less than two days away from the full moon. The bright moonlight will obscure most of the faint meteors.

"However, this year there could be an impressive outburst lasting several hours when the Earth is predicted to encounter a dust stream left behind by comet 21P/Giacobini–Zinner in 2012. This event will occur between 10 and 11 p.m. tonight," HAS informed.

At its peak, observers are likely to see between 150 and 400 meteors per hour, making the Draconids one of the most impressive meteor showers of the year. However, meteor showers are notoriously unpredictable, so nothing is certain.

How to observe meteor shower?

Experts recommend that astronomy enthusiasts can start observing from right after sunset in the north, at this time the center of the constellation Draco (Dragon) is located about 40 degrees above the horizon.

While not expected to be one of the best meteor showers of the year, the Draconids have one special feature that makes them incredibly appealing to skygazers: While most meteor showers are at their brightest in the early morning before dawn, the Draconids can appear any time after dark.

Meteor shower observation requires weather support

PHOTO: LUU HOAI NAM

The shining point of the meteor shower is Draco, also known as the dragon constellation, which can be found in the northern sky. Draco is always visible in the Northern Hemisphere under clear skies.

One of the largest constellations in the north, Draco is best seen this time of year as a serpentine dragon's tail, forming a vague Z shape above the Big Dipper in the sky. This is why many people call the Draconids meteor shower "falling from the tail of a cosmic dragon."

Timeanddate.com says you don’t need any special equipment or much skill to watch a meteor shower. All you really need is clear skies and patience. Find a secluded viewing spot away from city lights.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/toi-nay-mua-sao-bang-dat-cuc-dai-nguoi-viet-co-thay-qua-cau-lua-ruc-sang-185251008151631095.htm