Stargazers are busy preparing for the annual autumnal meteor showers known as the October Draconids, which occur as the periodic comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner passes by Earth.
From Monday 7th until Thursday 10th October the meteor showers named after the constellation Draco, where they seemingly come from, will be clearly visible from Earth. The Draconids are best viewed after sunset in an area with a clear dark sky and little light pollution.
The Draconids occur when particles of dust and rock left behind by the comet in its orbit enter the Earth's atmosphere and evaporate. These particles create a luminous effect, making it possible to see these meteor "showers".
They will be visible in the whole northern hemisphere and in the Tropics.
The most intense Draconid meteor showers in recent history occurred in 1933 and 1946 when thousands of meteors per hour were recorded as the Earth plowed through particularly dense streams of comet debris. Although the Draconids occur every October, it is usually difficult to know just how active each year's meteor shower will be.
During the 2012 shower radar observations detected up to 1000 meteors per hour. The 2012 outburst may have been caused by the narrow trail of dust and debris left behind by the parent comet in 1959.
Photo credit: Juan Carlos Casado, TWAN, Draconid meteor showers above the Celtic ruins of Capote in Badajoz province October 19th 2011.
A COLD front is set to hit Spain this weekend and could cause torrential rain in the Mediterranean on Monday and Tuesday, according to the State meteorological agency, AEMET. After an extra-long summer and with...
A SPANISH marine environmentalist has received an award from the University of New South Wales, Australia, for her 'creative and persuasive leadership' in raising awareness among the general public about the...
GOOD news for anyone planning a getaway this October bank holiday – the 'Indian summer' across Spain is set to stay put for at least another week. The only sign that autumn is now in its fourth week will be...
New EU rules just announced, and due to come into force in April 2021, will ensure that household appliances will last longer and use less water and electricity. The legislation has been prompted by complaints from...
A COLD front is set to hit Spain this weekend and could cause torrential rain in the Mediterranean on Monday and Tuesday, according to the State meteorological agency, AEMET. After an extra-long summer and with...
A SPANISH marine environmentalist has received an award from the University of New South Wales, Australia, for her 'creative and persuasive leadership' in raising awareness among the general public about the...
GOOD news for anyone planning a getaway this October bank holiday – the 'Indian summer' across Spain is set to stay put for at least another week. The only sign that autumn is now in its fourth week will be...
New EU rules just announced, and due to come into force in April 2021, will ensure that household appliances will last longer and use less water and electricity. The legislation has been prompted by complaints from...
Stargazers are busy preparing for the annual autumnal meteor showers known as the October Draconids, which occur as the periodic comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner passes by Earth. From Monday 7th until Thursday 10th October...
For over six months now catching any fish in the Strait of Gibraltar has become extremely difficult. On hurling their nets into the waters with the hopes of catching sole, bream or cuttlefish, the only catch they have...
HUNDREDS of thousands of residents hit the street yesterday (Friday) across Spain, joining in with a global strike calling for urgent action to halt climate change. Although the climate march in Madrid was the largest...
ACTING president Pedro Sánchez promised 'urgent' measures to address climate change during the New York-based United Nations summit – after world leaders were given a dressing-down by Swedish sixth-former...
IN A GROUND-BREAKING moment in the history of childhood, pupils all over the planet told their teachers they would be 'playing truant' on Friday and hitting the streets of their nearest towns or cities marching...
SPAIN'S weather office says the country will enjoy a warmer-than-usual autumn after the fifth summer in a row with above-average temperatures, and dramatic differences in rainfall from region to region. Autumn...
ANOTHER depression is on its way across mainland Spain, bringing torrential rain to the east coast over tomorrow (Tuesday) and Wednesday. The weather phenomenon known as a DANA (Isolated Depression at High Levels)...
THIS autumn will be 'much warmer and drier than usual' with temperatures above average for the time of year, especially in the north-east of mainland Spain, says a leading weather expert. José Antonio Maldonado...
