Where do I look to see the Alpha Capricornids meteor shower?

Question

Here's the detailed info on where the showers are, but what does it mean in layman's terms:

The duration of this shower extends from July 15 to September 11. Maximum seems to occur during August 1 (Solar Longitude=128.6°) from an average radiant of RA=306.7°, DECL=-8.3°.

If I'm in North America, would I take a compass, point 0 degrees to the north, then look at the 306.7 degree mark and face that direction? Then look up 8.3 degrees (If 90 degrees is straight up, then about 1/10th of the way between the horizon and straight up).

Does this sound reasonable, or am I way off?

Yes, I have a country property; very dark. I watch the Perseids most years, just reclining on a lawn chair. I've never tried to view the alpha capricornids before, and wanted to at least know where in the sky the source was. But yes, you are right, even the Perseids can be seen all over the sky. Thanks for the tip regarding early morning viewing.

Answer 1

The Alpha Capricornids are so called because they have a radiant (apparent origin) near the star Alpha Capricorni, the brightest star in Capricorn. At 9 PM, look east-southeast, about 20 degrees above the horizon. At midnight, straight south, about 30 degrees above the horizon; and for best viewing, at 3 AM look southsouthwest, about 20 degrees up.

The meteors themselves can appear in any part of the sky, but your best observation will be roughly in the direction of the radiant.

Answer 2

You can just look anywhere in the sky. The radiant is merely the point on the sky where all the meteor paths would converge if you traced them back. The meteors themselves can appear anywhere in the sky. The best way to look is to recline on a chaise lounge or something similar and look up at the whole sky. Most meteor showers are not very spectacular, especially to someone not experienced at viewing them. You may go many minutes without seeing a single meteor and give up. The meteors may be dim requiring you to travel out of the city to get a really dark sky. The number of meteors is normally much less before midnight, so to get the best chance of seeing them you need to get up early, before dawn. Most people go out in the evening, see nothing and give up. The reason after midnight is better is that the Earth is orbiting the Sun in the direction of the morning side of the planet, so it is running into the meteors on that side, while on the evening side the meteors would have to be catching up with Earth in its orbit to hit there. Looking for meteors in the evening is like looking for bugs to splatter on the rear window of a car. All the bugs splatter on the windshield, and the morning side of Earth is the windshield side.

Answer 3

It sounds about right. 8.3 degrees is only about 1/2 a hand width. If you stretch your arm out and spread your hand a normal width (fingers apart, but not stretching apart,,, kinda like a high five to no one). A hand width at arms length is 15 degrees.

Answer 4

It depends