An explosion of new meteors could occur during the Tau Herculid meteor shower on May 30 and 31, but this is not certain.
NASA astronomer Bill Cook called the potential event “all or nothing” in an agency blog post earlier in May as astronomers tracked the wreckage of comet 73P / Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (also known as SW 3).
“If the SW 3 debris traveled more than 220 miles [354 kilometers] an hour when it separates from the comet, we can see a nice meteor shower, “said Bill Cook, who heads NASA’s Meteorological Environment Office at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama (opening in a new section ).
“If the debris had a lower ejection rate,” Cook added, “then nothing will reach Earth and there will be no meteors from this comet.”
If you are hoping to capture the Tau Herculid meteor shower or want to prepare your outfit for the next sky observation event, check out our best astrophotography cameras and best astrophotography lenses. Read our guide on how to shoot meteors and meteor showers for more useful tips for planning your photo shoot.
Connected: 2022 Meteor Rain Guide: Dates and Tips for Viewing
The comet was first observed almost exactly 92 years ago by German astronomers Friedrich Karl Arnold Schwassmann and Arno Arthur Wahmann on May 2, 1930 (the comet was the third discovered by these astronomers after discoveries in 1927 and 1929).
Orbital data show that the comet approaches the Earth at 5.7 million miles (9.2 million km), orbiting the sun approximately every 5.4 years, according to astro.com astronomical columnist Joe Rao. The comet has been observed only sporadically for decades, but was restored permanently in 1990.
The comet showed surprising excess brightness in years such as 1995 and 2000, when it began to fragment. On April 18, 2006, the Hubble Space Telescope discovered dozens of fragments (opens in a new section). SW 3 continued to be distracted by observations from the infrared camera (IRAC) of the Spitzer Space Telescope. Eventually, the comet disintegrated into more than 68 parts, filling the solar system with debris since its last appearance in March 2017.
Arcturus in the constellation Bootes. (Image Credit: Getty Images)
The observation point for potential meteors will be the constellation Boötes, just north-northwest of its red bright star Arcturus. (These are the names of the International Astronomical Union for the constellation and the star, respectively, although you may use different names depending on your culture.)
Fortunately, the sky will be dark as the moon is in its new phase. Try to look away from the source (radiant) to catch longer and brighter meteors and get away from artificial light.
“If they reach us this year, the SW 3 debris will hit the Earth’s atmosphere very slowly, traveling only 10 miles [16 km] per second – which means much weaker meteors than those belonging to this Aquarium, “said NASA (opens in a new section). “But North American astronomers are paying special attention this year because the Tau Herculian radiant will be high in the night sky at the estimated peak time.”
If this time you are foggy or unlucky when it comes to watching meteors, mark the upcoming meteor showers in 2022 to plan your next trip. The next big rain will be the Perseids on August 11-12, when the weather is warmer. The Perseids are one of the brightest rains of the year and worth the effort to go outside and take a look.
Editor’s note: If you take an amazing photo of the Tau Herculi meteor shower and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom or Facebook.
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