Posted on 05/28/2022 5:52:13 AM PDT by BenLurkin
Those meteors could flare up when our planet passes through the pieces of a disintegrating comet called Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW3). It isn't just an exciting opportunity for skywatchers; comet scientists eagerly anticipate the encounter as well. According to NASA, the meteor shower could amaze (or disappoint) overnight on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30) and run into early Tuesday.
SW3 is fairly close to the sun by comet standards; it completes an orbit of our star once every five years. In 1995, it started to break apart, shattering into dozens of smaller pieces and leaving behind a cloud of debris that continues to circle the sun.
SW3 is breaking up. And, for the last several decades, Earth's orbit has been bringing our planet ever closer to crossing the resulting cloud of debris. This year, finally, seems to be the year that we cruise through it. If that is indeed the case, much of the comet debris will fall into Earth's atmosphere and burn up as meteors, some of which could be spectacular.
(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...
These “meteor showers“ always turn out to be a massive disappointment when I stay up to view them. And I’ve tried quite a few times.
At least this year I have the Timberline zero gravity recliner to look skyward. The sky is dark up here but hopefully no clouds.
Yes. I know. But…
I was in the Chicago suburbs in 1966 during the November leonid shower. It was a cloudy night and after staying up for a little while, I decided to go to bed.
And then this happened:
https://www.space.com/13613-leonid-meteor-shower-peak-1966-storm.html
I also remember Comet Neowise in July 2020. I went out about 4 am to a small hill near my house to observe this comet. I stayed out there for about 45 minutes, then gave up and went back home.
At 5 am I decide to step out into my backyard for one last try. The sky was beginning to get light. And there was the comet! Beautifully hanging there in the early morning sky.
I would rate it as the third best comet I have seen in size and brightness of the tail.
You just never know.
I accidentally saw a great meteor shower one August night, @1977, when I decided to sleep on my apartment deck because it was so hot. It was amazing.
I was in the Canadian Boundry Waters one August in 93 and saw a spectacular night display. It was capped by a meteor blowing apart in plasma heat and splitting into two tracks.
If they’re excited now just wait until they experience the joys of a bolide airburst over a city.
“Comet Neowise in July 2020”
That one was really awesome! We watched it every night for quite a number of nights from Wisconsin. Just STUNNING, really! :)
Thanks for posting will try to watch. Don’t have as good a sky view as I used to and more night time clouds, so have gotten out of the habit of keeping up with what’s up there.
The Leonid Meteor Shower usually put on a good show if you’re out in the country and away from city lights.
My boys and I camped on our deck many August nights watching them. One evening we counted 200 before we were all too tired and fell asleep.
Good times. :)
I remember Kohoutek, 1973.
What a bust.
Now I feel old. :-(
Yep. That one was a bust.
The Leonid shower is in November. You might be thinking of the Perseid shower. It’s almost always cloudy in southern Arizona in August, so I never get to see the Perseids these days.
Law offices of Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
[These “meteor showers“ always turn out to be a massive disappointment]
It always seems to be overcast or if clear, unseasonably COLD on the night of a meteor shower. I have often wondered if the dust cloud blocks some of the sunlight and affects the weather. When my kids need a science fair project I am going to suggest they try to correlate meteor showers and weather changes.
yes, I am going to try to observe this.
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