Astronomers think that this year's version of the Tau Herculids might be different because it is a periodic shower. You need to know when, where and how to watch this spectacle. During the year between May 19 and June 19 there is a shower called the Tau Herculids. The shower is usually very quiet, but this year it is a bit different. We have to go back 27 years to understand why. In 1995 comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 broke apart. Tonight and into the early morning of May 31, Earth will travel through the comet's debris tail. If enough cometary debris reaches Earth and is moving fast enough to create a light show in the atmosphere, then this sets the stage for a possible eruption. The Sun is visited by comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 once every 5.4 years. If the fragments were ejected with speeds greater than twice the normal speeds, we might get a meteor shower. Astronomers are excited because of the observations made with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2009. Next-Level Sound can be experienced. Theater-like sound surrounds you with spatial audio with dynamic head tracking.
There is a chance of an active meteor shower tonight. According to research from Western University in Ontario, Canada, the next storm won't happen until 2049. The storm may not match what could happen tonight, as dust tends to evaporate over time.
Observers in North America will have the best view if the skies are clear. The shower will peak at 1:00 a.m. On the morning of May 31, or the night before. On the evening of May 30. People living in Australia can watch the shower online at the Virtual Telescope Project.
The fragments are expected to move slowly across the sky. You don't necessarily have to look towards the exact spot for the debris to come from. Astronomer Peter Brown from Western University said that there could be as many as 40 meteors per hour.
Some people say that if the comet breaks up, you will see thousands an hour. I hope I'm wrong.
Even if the shower doesn't go as planned, the data from tonight's Tau Herculids will still be important as it will help make more reliable predictions in the future.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
