Astronomer predicts dramatic Draconid meteor shower for October 8, 2011

Image Credit: NASA/JSC/ARES

People are asking if the U.K. is the best place to view the predicted October 8 Draconid meteor storm. Maybe. The prediction favors all of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.

A predicted brief meteor storm for October 8
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.