Tau Herculid Meteor Shower May See 1,000s of Shooting Stars From Comet SW3
Tau Herculid Meteor Shower May See 1,000s of Shooting Stars From Comet SW3
Stargazers might be in for a treat next week as Earth is expected to pass through the scattered remains of a comet, causing a meteor shower.
Stargazers might be in for a treat next week as Earth is expected to pass through the scattered remains of a comet, causing a meteor shower.
The shower, which has been named the tau Herculid shower, is forecast to peak on the night of May 30 and into the early morning of May 31, according to NASA.
The shower, which has been named the tau Herculid shower, is forecast to peak on the night of May 30 and into the early morning of May 31, according to NASA.
It's been described as a newcomer in terms of meteor showers.
It's been described as a newcomer in terms of meteor showers.
For context, meteor showers are generally the result of Earth passing through the "tail" of a comet—a vast cloud of gas and dust released from the comet as it passes near to the sun.
For context, meteor showers are generally the result of Earth passing through the "tail" of a comet—a vast cloud of gas and dust released from the comet as it passes near to the sun.
Debris inside this cloud can streak through the Earth's atmosphere at enormous speeds—dozens of miles per second.
Debris inside this cloud can streak through the Earth's atmosphere at enormous speeds—dozens of miles per second.
The intense heat generated by the debris slamming into our atmosphere makes the debris glow intensely, which is what causes them to streak brightly across the sky.
The intense heat generated by the debris slamming into our atmosphere makes the debris glow intensely, which is what causes them to streak brightly across the sky.