At nightfall, you might try to find the two brightest stars in the constellation Draco the Dragon, in order to gaze into the Dragon’s flaming eyes and to behold the radiant point of the Draconid meteor shower. Sound exciting?
The truth is you don’t really have to identify the radiant point of a meteor shower in order to watch the Draconids or any shower. Assuming the radiant is above your horizon, the meteors will streak all over the sky. If you trace the paths of the Draconid meteors backward, they appear to radiate from the Dragon’s fiery mouth. But you don’t need to identify the stars of Draco the Dragon to see the slow-moving Draconid meteors.
Still, identifying a meteor shower radiant point is fun. It’s especially fun with the Draconids, which radiate from the constellation Draco the Dragon. The Dragon’s two brightest stars – Eltanin and Rastaban – are near the radiant point for the Draconids. These stars represent the Dragon’s eyes. Find them tonight!
Legendary Draconid meteors peak on evening October 7
Eltanin and Rastaban: Dragon’s eyes
Our sky chart shows the northwestern quadrant of sky and covers a lot more area than most of our charts do. The Big Dipper sits low in the northwest, especially as seen from the southern states. Obstructions on the horizon may even hide the Big Dipper from view. If you can spot it low in the sky, use the Big Dipper to star-hop to the stars Polaris and Arcturus.
In 2012, the moon-free evenings will provide a dark sky for seeing Draco the Dragon in all his starlit majesty. Look for Eltanin and Rastaban somewhat high up in the northwestern sky at nightfall and early evening.
Big and Little Dippers: Noticeable in northern sky
Altair and Vega point to Draco the Dragon's Eyes
If all else fails, use the signpost Summer Triangle to locate the Dragon’s eyes. The Summer Triangle shines high in the south to overhead at nightfall. Draw an imaginary line from the star Altair through the star Vega to locate Eltanin and Rastaban, the Dragon’s Eyes.
Summer Triangle: Vega, Deneb, Altair
The modest Draconid meteor shower usually only puts out a handful of meteors per hour, though elevated levels are always possible. If you’re game, lie down in a reclining lawn chair this early evening, with your feet pointing northward. As you watch for the Draconid meteors on this moonlit night, see if you can locate the Dragon’s Eyes and the radiant point of the Draconid meteor shower.
