Bright “falling stars” from a new meteor shower lit up the night sky in a dazzling display Monday night through Tuesday, although it wasn’t a “meteor storm” as some astronomers had hoped.
The new meteor shower peaked around midnight Tuesday (May 31) as the remnants of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (also known as SW 3) burned without damage in Earth’s atmosphere as part of the now scientists’ Tau Hercules meteor shower.
Although Shooting Star Fiesta never reached “meteor storm” conditions (with up to 1,000 meteors per hour), it did produce enough bright meteors to catch the world’s attention. (NASA warned the storm would only occur if debris moved faster than 220 miles per hour or 321 km per hour, and meteor expert Bill Cook warned it was an “all or nothing.”
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“The storm was not expected, but it is clear that the Earth passed through a cloud of dust from the comet,” said the French Network of Meteor Watchers (BOAM). wrote on twitter (Opens in a new tab) With a speeding picture of meteor stars. (Translated from French by Space.com).
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#meteor #TauHerculids revitalized last night. It’s not the expected storm but ???? it passed through a cloud of dust from comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann. Photo: #36 Meteorite, 30-31/05/2022, CAMS3900 Camera from @astronomie54 #Nancy #France pic.twitter. com / zs2TQ4zpaHMay 31, 2022
NASA engineer Tim Reyes, based in Silicon Valley, spent several hours observing Tau Hercules. By posting his notes and a photo on his website Personal Twitter account (Opens in a new tab)He said, “No storm level, shower above average [and] Short duration, about three hours.”
The peak was also half an hour later than expected, Reyes said, occurring at 10:30 p.m. PT (1:30 a.m. EST or 0550 GMT).
#TauHerculids 2022 My notes: No shower storm level above average Short duration, about 3 hours Peak was at 10:30pm PDT not 945 or 10pm. pic.twitter.com/XVome9qnx0May 31, 2022
Several other observers captured the storm in the United States, along with images and, in some cases, other celestial bodies such as the Milky Way. He was aided in the observations of a new moon, and in the Americas, shining from the constellation Hercules that was high in the sky and away from thick weather conditions near the horizon.
If you missed the show, check out the upcoming 2022 meteor showers to determine the next date for your search. August is usually a good time, with the peak of bright Perseids this year between August 11 and 12.
If you’re hoping to photograph a meteor shower or want to get your gear ready for your next sky-watching event, check out the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography. Read our guide to how to photograph meteors and meteor showers for more helpful tips for planning your shoot.
Related: A guide to the 2022 meteor shower: dates and viewing tips
No meteor storm, but definitely some #TauHerculids tonight, and an excuse to photograph the Milky Way. MustafaHosny Oh God, Amen LordMay 31, 2022
A bright, slow-moving Tau Herculid meteor over north Los Angeles. #TauHerculids pic.twitter.com/XGIrigQKx8May 31, 2022
Watched #TauHerculids around 25 tonight at 10:30 on MN CT.. I caught a bit pic.twitter.com/4OchreEQG4May 31, 2022
#TauHerculids over Middleville, Michigan just after midnight. #wmiwx #miwx #StormHour #Astrophotography #Meteors pic.twitter.com/P6nyWA5FCrMay 31, 2022
From rural Central Texas, I could see a few small, explosive, short fireballs. I was able to take one photo by zooming in after Ursa Major (“Big Dipper ???? with 12mm lens and Nikon D750 @ISO8000 (!).” #TauHerculids #meteor #astronomy pic.twitter.com/d58sKUji8MMay 31, 2022
Fragments of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 crisscross the night sky, re-entering Earth’s atmosphere at breakneck speed and providing a stunning spectacle of the #TauHerculids meteor shower. pic.twitter.com/5ffsY5onBPMay 31, 2022
A large spotty meteor (possibly #TauHerculids) last night at 10:21 p.m., Colorado looks at SSW. I had some weaker meteors and satellites before the big clouds moved in. pic.twitter.com/QzYsx3z2cdMay 31, 2022
Caught this gushing beauty on Mount Lukens from La Crescenta (9 miles north of downtown #LosAngeles)!May 31, 2022
Editor’s note: If you took an amazing photo of the tau Herculids meteor shower and would like to share it with the readers of Space.com, send your photo(s), comments, name and location to [email protected].
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