A rare meteor shower, known as the chi Cygnids, is set to peak this week, shining brightly in the night sky for the first time in five years. This meteor shower has been gradually building up since late August, with the best viewing expected between September 13 and 15.
Unlike more famous showers like the Perseids, the chi Cygnids aren’t as spectacular. You might only see one or two meteors per hour at their peak. Still, there’s something magical about witnessing an event that scientists only identified a decade ago. Peter Jenniskens, an astronomer with the SETI Institute and NASA, first spotted the chi Cygnids in 2015, with earlier signs dating back to 2010.
On September 3, the SETI Institute reported a new surge in chi Cygnid activity, suggesting that this meteor shower indeed follows a five-year cycle. However, we still have many questions about it. For example, we don’t yet know which comet is behind the debris that creates these meteors. Jenniskens points to an asteroid named 2020RF as a possible source. This asteroid orbits the Sun in a way that aligns with the 5.08-year cycle of the chi Cygnids.
When the shower peaks, viewers can look for bright streaks radiating from the star Chi Cygni in the Cygnus constellation, which resembles a swan. This time of year, Cygnus is high in the sky after dark, making evening viewing ideal.
And good news for stargazers: the Moon won’t interfere with viewing until after midnight on September 13 and 14, giving you a great chance to see this fascinating cosmic display. If you’re in a place with a clear dark sky, keep your eyes peeled!
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