Photo: sripfoto (Shutterstock)
Meteors are not uncommon: there are cosmic particles that fall to Earth constantly, and if you look long enough each night, you’ll probably see one or more moving through the darkness. However, meteor showers that illuminate the night sky for minutes or hours are much rarer, and this month is spectacular. Perhaps.
If all the stars line up (hm), the Tau Herculian shower will appear over the neighboring United States on the night of May 30 and early in the morning of May 31. That’s what NASA’s Meteroid Environmental Protection Bill called “an all-or-nothing event,” so hope for the best and prepare for the worst.
Here’s what you need to know.
When to see the meteor shower Tau Herculid
If that happens, Tau Herculid’s show is expected to peak around 1 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 31 (22:00 PT on May 30).
The meteors themselves are likely to move slower and look weaker than those from the Eta Aquarid rain earlier this month. Tonight, however, the moon is new, so the sky will be dark for maximum visibility. Due to the weather and the position of the Earth, viewers in the United States will get the best show, from about half up in the sky to just above the head.
You always want to find the darkest possible place to observe meteor showers, but this can be especially important for Tau Herculids, given the slow speed expected for individual particles.
Tau Herculidi – a novelty in the scene of meteor showers
The Tau Herculid shower originated from a comet known as SW 3, which was first discovered in 1930 and is believed to have begun to disintegrate in 1995. Since then, SW 3 has continued to disintegrate into pieces with each pass, and experts believe that the position of the debris in relation to the comet, the position of the Earth and the speed can create an impressive viewing experience.
However, this is a guess more than a guarantee.
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