Community Corner

Draconid and Orionid Meteor Showers 2013 Peak: Dates, Where to Watch

Here comes two more 2013 meteor showers.

By Todd Richissin

Of all the meteor showers out there — up there — the Draconid meteor shower 2013 peak is among the most unpredictable.

The dates for the Draconids 2013 peak are Oct. 7 and 8, followed a couple weeks later by the usually (but not this year) more reliable Orionid meteor shower peak — which this year is followed by the chance to see the Comet ISON in November.

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The Draconid meteor shower has its good, bad and hopeful sides.

The good: Because of its position in the sky, you can see the Draconid meteor shower closer to sunset than to sunrise.

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The bad: Most years, the Draconid meteor shower is not a shower at all, producing only a handful of slow-moving meteors.

The hopeful: When the Draconids shower hits, it really hits, at times producing several hundred meteors in an hour. And with just a sliver of moon for the 2013 Draconids peak, there could be a great show in the skies over Arlington and the rest of Northern Virginia.

The best place to watch is the darkest place possible. In Arlington, that can be tough thanks to the significant amount of light pollution here.

Some stargazers have had luck at Fort C.F. Smith Park in the Woodmont community or at Long Branch Nature Center on South Carlin Springs Road. One Washington Post reader said he was able to see some of the Geminid meteor shower in December at Bon Air Park.

Arlington Parks and Recreation officials have been reluctant to recommend anywhere in the county for good stargazing, though Riverbend Park in Great Falls has been mentioned as a good place not too far away.

One Patch reader suggested watching from Sky Meadows State Park, which is between Gainesville and Front Royal near the town of Upperville. The reader called it, "One of the best dark sky locations in Northern Virginia."

Earthsky.org has these tips from anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere:

These extremely slow-moving Draconid meteors, when traced backward, radiate from the head of Draco the Dragon, near the stars Eltanin and Rastaban. However, you don’t have to locate Draco the Dragon to watch the Draconids, for these meteors fly every which way through the starry sky.

Simply find a dark, open sky away from artificial lights. Plan to spend a few hours lounging comfortably under the stars. Bring along a reclining lawn chair, have your feet point in a general north or northwest direction and look upward. If you don’t know your cardinal directions, just lie down and look upward. Chill, and enjoy! You might see some meteors. 

This may be your best chance this month to see a meteor shower. While the Orionids are usually reliable, a bright moon this year will likely bleach out much of your view.


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