Comet 21P Between Rosette and Cone Nebulas

Small bits of this greenish-gray Comet are expected to streak across Earth’s atmosphere tonight.

Specifically, debris from the eroding nucleus of Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner, pictured, causes the annual Draconids meteor shower, which peaks this evening.

Draconids meteor shower meteors are easy to enjoy this year because meteor rates will likely peak soon after sunset with the Moon’s glare nearly absent.

Patience may be needed, though, as last month’s passing of 21P near the Earth’s orbit is not expected to increase the Draconids’ normal Meteor Shower rate this year of (only) a few meteors per hour.

Then again, Meteor Shower rates are notoriously hard to predict, and the Draconids were quite impressive in 1933, 1946, and 2011.

Featured, Comet 21P / Giacobini-Zinner gracefully posed between the Rosette Nebula (upper left) and Cone Nebula (lower right) nebulas two weeks ago before heading back out to near the orbit of Jupiter, to return again in about six and a half years. Also relevant are Night Sky.