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Updated:29/05/2022 02:50h
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In May 1930, German astronomers witnessed an incredible spectacle: a shooting star shower of 100 meteors a minute. The researchers were then able to find the ‘culprit’ of that totally new ‘meteoric storm’: the comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3also know as SW3. So they predicted that, if it came even closer (it visits us relatively frequently, every 16 years), an even more numerous phenomenon could be seen from our planet. Now, almost a century later, the SW3 its fragments will ‘graze’ us in the early hours of next Tuesday, May 31, a unique moment for astronomy.
Comets like 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 are made of ice, water vapor, dust, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and other gases, materials that come from the time the comet formed. Solar system 4.5 billion years ago.
The icy core is surrounded by a large cloud of gas and dust (the coma or atmosphere), which appears when the Sun heats the core and it evaporates. But the most spectacular part, and of course the most famous, is the tail, which can measure up to hundreds of millions of kilometers in length.
Among a cloud of fragments
In reality, the Earth will be the one passing through a curtain of fragments, since SW3 has been disintegrating since 1995. In fact, that year the comet surprised astronomers because it could be seen with the naked eye and the European Southern Observatory in La Silla (Chile) ) found that its tiny nucleus had fractured into four parts. The comet was still quite bright in the fall of 2000, showing that two of the fragments detected in 1995 had returned, along with a new one, which probably broke off during the 1995 return. In the spring of 2006 it returned to our domain, showing at least eight fragments. But it was Hubble that witnessed dozens of chunks and the Spitzer Space Telescope photographed 45 of 58 chunks. In all, SW3 eventually split into more than 68 fragments and in its most recent appearance, in March 2017, it showed signs of continuing to break apart and shed new pieces with each return through the inner solar system.
Since then, dozens of SW3’s ‘daughter’ rocks have traveled through space, and we will meet them in the early hours of May 30-31. But what will we see this time? “Astronomers always tend to be cautious in our expectations of a meteoric outburst – explains in his blog the astrophysicist of the Institute of Space Sciences (CSIC) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia (IEEC) Josep M. Trigo-Rodríguez-. The reason is that the particles that come off comets are very fragile aggregates that generally tend to disintegrate when exposed to the interplanetary medium. Still, typical disintegration periods range from decades to even several centuries. If so, and the aggregates of this comet persist long enough in interplanetary space without being reduced to micrometric dust, our fortunes could be increased.
The researcher affirms that if a more consistent piece has survived among these fragments, it is possible that parts will fall on Earth and can be recovered for further investigation. In addition, he explains that our planet, on the night of May 30-31, “will not only cross the fragments left by the comet in 1995 but will also cross the dust curtains left by comet 73P/Schwassman-Wachmann 3 in the years 1892 and 1897».
Where and when to see it
In short: according to several experts, the chances of another show like the one in 1995 being observed are high, since the Earth will have a direct interaction with the material released by the division of SW3 and other previous moments that also released part of the material of this comet. A consensus of the various predictions points to the 05:00 UT/GMT on Tuesday, May 31 (7 AM peninsular time) We will pass through these remains.
Astronomers recommend heading to a secluded spot to avoid light pollution. In addition, the Moon will be in a new phase, ideal to enjoy the show, as well as fairly clear skies throughout Spain.
Opportunity for amateur astronomers
From the Spanish Research Network on Fireballs and Meteorites They are promoting a photographic and video recording campaign of tonight’s meteoric activity, so they encourage any astrophotographer to participate with their videos and images, which will then form part of a future study, if the expected spectacle finally takes place. Cross our fingers.
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