Shooting stars rain in Germany: this is how you can marvel at the Draconids today

It rains again in October of stars falling from the night sky. We explain where and when you can experience Draconid Shooting Star Night.

Munich – Shooting stars have always attracted people. It is not without reason that shooting stars should bring luck and fulfill wishes. They are rarely seen with the human eye, but in October they get a chance to catch a shooting star again. The so-called Draconids can be seen from 6 October to 10 October every year. So this year too.

Draconid shooting star knight: where and when to see them

The meteor shower can be seen especially well from October 7 to 9 this year. Shooting stars are best seen in the Northern Hemisphere, particularly on October 8 and 9 at the height of Draconid. This means that the natural spectacle can be seen even in Germany. In Germany, ten shooting stars are said to rain from the sky every hour.

Unlike other meteor showers, the Draconids are already clearly visible shortly after sunset, as the radiant is then already high enough in the sky. Radians describe the apparent origin of falling stars.

Draconid Shooting Stars: Origins and Dragon Constellations

This point in the sky is for the Draconids in the Dragon constellation. It can be found in the northern sky near the better known “little bear” (also colloquially called “little wagon”). Most shooting stars come from the direction of the two brightest stars in the constellation, Etamin and Alveda, that make up the dragon’s head. Hence the name of the meteor shower.

The true origin of small extraterrestrial boulders and dust particles is Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner. In the period 6 to 10 October, Earth will cross the orbit of comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, fragments of which will then burn up as shooting stars in the atmosphere.

Tips for Draconid Shooting Star Knight:

Shooting Stars 2021: These Meteor Showers Follow the Draconids

In the second half of October, the Draconids are followed by the Orionids. They are active every year in the first week of October and November. During this time, Earth crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet, fragments of which burn up in the atmosphere as shooting stars. Most shooting stars occur every year around October 20, 21 and 22. The Orionids are named after the constellation Orion, because this is where the Andean meteor shower is located.

In addition to the Draconids and Orionids, other Shooting Star Nights can be seen for the remainder of 2021. The Leonids are followed in November (maximum: 17 November) and the Geminids (peak: 13 December) and the Ursids (maximum: 22 December) in December. So there are still a few ways to find a shooting star and make a wish. (jsh)

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