Should we prepare for a meteorite storm tonight?
While there are still predictions everywhere about how many shooting stars will be generated from 73P / Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, it looks like some meteors may have already fallen into our atmosphere as the Earth sinks into the debris stream.
The Tau Herculids, as the new meteor shower is called, are expected to reach their peak with possible storm conditions tonight (May 30-31). They have probably already been detected in many countries in projects led by Spain and NASA.
The Spanish Fireball and Meteorite Research Network (SPMN), coordinated by Dr. Josep M. Trigo-Rodríguez of the Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC-IEEC), detected on Friday a pair of shooting stars probably associated with the event. (May 27) and posted a thread on Twitter with videos.
“Ready for the campaign?” said one of the tweets (opens in a new tab), along with images of a slow meteor that is becoming quite bright on a camera across the sky. (Spanish was translated by Space.com.)
Related: How to watch the possible Herculid tau meteor storm live online tonight
FIRST CARIDE TAU HERCULIDA # SPMN270522H! Recorded yesterday Friday on #Aragón by Antonio Lasala @ AntonioLG1 at 23h57m46s TUC. Hopefully the announcement of many more fragments of comet # 73P # SW3 in the coming nights. Ready for the campaign? 🤩 pic.twitter.com/cm0gPwbCvAMay 28, 2022
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The first fireball was recorded at 7:57 pm EDT (2357 GMT) from three different locations, all captured by the camera. These views were in Aragon (northeast of Spain) and recorded by Antonio Lasala, from Madrid by Jaime Zamorano and from Valencia by Jordi Donet.
“These aggregates, when disintegrating … have a markedly slow angular velocity and create a train of fragments; useful features to identify them,” tweeted the network (opens in new tab) along with images of the Valencian meteor .
2) THIS SAME BOLID was recorded at 5 frames / s by Dr. Jaime Zamorano from Madrid # M30 @ObservaUCM @ Fisicas_UCM.The records give us a glimpse of how spectacular high meteoric activity of comet 73P / Schwassman-Wachmann 3 can happen @ cephalopod pic.twitter.com/gYlEalOdDIMay 28, 2022
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3) FARTHER WAS RECORDED from #Barx, #Valencia by Jordi Donet @DonetJorge. These aggregates, when disintegrating at low geocentric speed (<15 km / s), have a markedly slow angular velocity and create a train of fragments, useful features to identify them pic.twitter.com/4vHifnHEQwMay 28, 2022
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NASA-sponsored cameras for Allsky meteorite surveillance (opens in a new tab) (CAMS) also recorded probable tau Herculids from Friday (May 27) to Sunday (May 29). The project is hosted by the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute (SETI) and led by Peter Jenniskens, a SETI research scientist.
Although CAMS said the first show could be a prelude to a “further improvement” in a meteor shower, the network noted (opens in a new tab) that it’s unclear (and “maybe” unlikely) that the meteors detected so far are related to 1995. comet rupture that could cause a storm in the sky tonight. In other words, there is still no firm indication that many meteors would come, although that may change.
Five Herculean tau were detected on Friday at CAMS locations in Texas, Arizona, Namibia and BeNeLux (between Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg), CAMS reported. On Saturday, meteors were detected at CAMS sites in Namibia, Arkansas and Arizona, then more were found on Sunday (May 29) at CAMS sites in Namibia, Chile, Arkansas, Arizona and California.
The place to observe potential meteors would be the constellation of Boötes, just north-northwest of its bright star Arcturus. (Image credit: Getty Images) (opens in a new tab)
The maximum brightness of these Herculean tau was -3 magnitude (brighter than the star Sirius at -1.47), although some shooting stars were as bright as magnitude 13. For comparison, a typical observer in Dark sky conditions can see stars as faint as magnitude. 6 a ull nu.
“Some of them were bright enough to be photographed, but overall the distribution involves rain rich in weak meteors,” the network said. Most meteors were close to the magnitude 4 detection limit of typical network video cameras, CAMS added.
If you’re ready to seek out the sky show for yourself, check out 1am on the east coast on Tuesday (May 31st) or 10pm on the west coast on Monday (May 30th). NASA suggests that people look at the constellation of Boötes, just north-northwest of its bright star Arcturus. (These are the names of the International Astronomical Union, but your culture may have different ones.)
Meteor showers, thankfully, are commonplace. So if the Herculean tau are weak or completely depleted, read on for the next ones using our upcoming 2022 meteor showers. August is what to expect, as the bright Perseids peak. on the 11th and 12th of August.
If you want to photograph the Tau Herculid meteor shower or want to prepare your team for the next sky observation event, check out our best astrophotography cameras and the best astrophotography lenses. Read our guide to shooting meteors and meteor showers for more useful tips for planning your photo shoot.
Editor’s note: If you’re taking a stunning photo of the Herculean Tau meteor shower and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photos, comments, and your name and location to spacephotos @ space. how.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace (opens in a new tab). Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in a new tab) or Facebook (opens in a new tab).