The October sky, also thanks to the increase in the hours of darkness after the autumn equinox , offers us several opportunities to admire the shooting stars . In fact, there are several active meteor showers this month, but we will have to pay special attention to the Draconids , since it is the first that occurs so we explain now what day and how to see the draconids in 2021.
Draconids 2021: What day and how to see the first big meteor shower of October
The Draconid meteor shower originates from Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner and shows particularly intense activity as the latter passes close to the Sun , a coincidence that last occurred in September 2018 and will be repeated in 2025. No However, it seems that the weather will be on our side in 2021 and it is expected that the observation of the Draconids will be excellent, although the phase of the moon will be a new moon, thus allowing the sky to be somewhat clearer so as not to miss the show in the sky. .
But when will the rain of the Draconids occur? As usually happens every year, the Draconids appear in the first days of October and in this 2021 in particular, their maximum peak of splendor is expected for the night of Friday, October 8 (specifically, at 7:00 p.m. ) but they will also be visible in the days following this date.
How to see the Draconids well
To observe them you will have to look towards the constellation of the Dragon , taking advantage of the fact that, at this stage of the month, the Moon will be completely absent.
The rain, which is expected to generate 20 meteors per hour , with a speed of 20 kilometers per second, can be seen well in the skies, although it is advised that we locate ourselves in a place where the sky is dark and without there is light pollution. It is also advisable to observe in the opposite direction to the position of the Moon and wait a little until the eye gets used to the darkness to be able to witness this meteor shower.
The Orionids, the second meteor shower of October
Although this beginning of October will be marked by the Draconids, in the second half of October, however, it will be the time of the Orionids , a meteor shower that is generated by the debris left by the famous Halley’s Comet and that is called that precisely because, during its activity, the radiant or its point of origin appears to be located in the constellation Orion. At peak time, the Orionids can produce several dozen meteors every hour, but contrary to what has been said about the Draconids this year, their observation will be disturbed by the brightness of the full Moon. The date on which they are expected to occur will be October 18-23 and will peak between October 21-22.
