Where should an observer look to see the longest and most impressive meteor streaks?
Answer
About 10 to 20 degrees away from the radiant point.
Although meteors appear to stream outward from the radiant point, staring directly at this location is counterproductive for maximizing the visual display. The longest and most visually impressive streaks, which offer the longest path across the observer's field of view, are typically observed when looking slightly away from the radiant. Specifically, guiding one's gaze about 10 to 20 degrees away from the apparent origin point allows the meteors to streak across a larger portion of the visible sky area, enhancing their perceived length and impact. This technique utilizes the full sweep of the meteor's entry path across the dark sky above the observer.
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