Scientists and sky lovers are searching for possible meteor showers that could appear in a late-night sky show on Monday, May 30.
According to the Caribbean Astronomy Society (SAC), the possible event is due to the fact that a comet called 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann has had fragmentation observed on several occasions since 1995, and predictions by many experts suggest that in the course of the Earth’s path, our planet could find itself Monday night with a large amount of debris falling during the final fragmentation of the comet.
These meteors have been called “Tau-Herculids” and if they are visible, the probability of seeing them will be Monday through Tuesday, between 12:00 AM and 2:00 AM with a higher probability around 1:00 AM.
Where are you looking? Although the radiation or the area of ​​sky from which it appears will be somewhat above the so-called Big Pan, which at that time can be seen to the northwest, it is highly recommended that you observe from a reclining chair or comfortably straight up, and Sack explained that several meteors It can appear in different regions of the sky.
“It’s important to understand that it’s just a possibility, so we can’t have high expectations,” confirmed Eddie Irisari, SAC’s science coordinator, while suggesting observing only in the event of heavy rain or a “meteor storm” is something that doesn’t happen very often. The absence of the moon, which will be in its new phase, will increase the probability of seeing meteors, in the event of a possible event.
Although at least a dozen such events have been documented over the past three centuries, one of the most notable was recorded 56 years ago. On November 17, 1966, Earth passed through a dense region of debris from Comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle, causing an average of 25 Leonid meteors to be seen per second, about 90,000 in one hour.
In the case of Tau-Herculid meteors that can be seen Monday through Tuesday, the SAC recommends observing from a darkened area and turning off external lights. Its “slow speed” (compared to other meteorites) of 33,500 mph (54,000 km/h) is expected to make it somewhat dim, mostly visible from areas far from light pollution.
If the possible astronomical event occurs, it will be visible from all over America, because this part of the planet will be the part that will meet the particles launched by comet 73P / Schwassmann-Wachmann, if the likely encounter actually occurs.
“Wannabe internet buff. Future teen idol. Hardcore zombie guru. Gamer. Avid creator. Entrepreneur. Bacon ninja.”
