Tag: technology

tau Herculid Meteor Shower

~~ a short essay ~~

by tkbrown

There may be a fantabulous meteor shower tonight, or it may prove to be nothing at all. NASA seems rather impressed with the possibility of a spectacular showing from the debris associated with the disintegration of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW 3). “Bill Cooke, a NASA astronomer who tracks meteor showers at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama said it all depends on the speed of the material from the comet,” (Malik, 30 May 2022). He said, “‘If the debris from SW 3 was traveling more than 220 miles [354 kilometers] per hour when it separated from the comet, we might see a nice meteor shower,'” (Malik, 30 May 2022). However, Cooke later added, “‘If the debris had slower ejection speeds, then nothing will make it to Earth, and there will be no meteors from this comet.;’ it was Cooke who said the tau Herculid meteor shower would be ‘all or nothing‘,'” (Malik, 30 May 2022).

Comet SW 3 was first discovered 2 May 1930 by two astronomers–for whom it is named–at the Hamburg Observatory in Bergedorf, Germany, (Rao, 22 May 2022). “While exposing plates, the two men discovered the faint image of a tiny new comet,” (Rao, 22 May 2022)–92 years ago SW 3 first revealed itself. “The comet completes an orbit of the Sun every 5.4 years,” (Rao, 22 May 2022). Over the course of several decades, several orbits were not observed, but in March 1979, sky watchers began recording viewings again. Twenty-seven years ago, SW 3 increased in brightness and could be seen with the naked eye, (Malik, 30 May 2022; Rao, 22 May 2022). Prior to 1995, viewing SW 3 was only possible with telescopes, but in October 1995, the comet was boasting a brightness four times what it had been in previous orbits of the Sun. At this time, the comet was observed to have split, with “at least four remnants” seen. When visibility was recorded in 2006, Joe Rao reports more than sixty-eight fragments were noted, (Rao, 22 May 2022).

During SW 3’s 2017 orbit of the Sun, continued fragmentation was seen. So, tonight’s 2022 orbit may reveal numerous shooting stars across our darkened sky on this night: May 30/31. If the speed of entry into Earth’s orbit is fast enough, the fragments should be visible. A slow ingress will diminish their brightness, and they may not be seen. If Earth’s May 2022 passage is through a full-fledged meteor storm, tau Herculid’s implosion may once again be discernable. (Rao, 22 May 2022).

So, if you have plans to watch for tau Herculid’s meteor show tonight, let us know–afterward– what it was like. I am looking forward to reading your responses. Thank You for reading!

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Here is what I have found so far regarding live viewings of the tau herculids meteor shower last night. From Facebook:

AIO Knowledge

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https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/peopleandplaces/2022-s-longest-meteor-shower-so-far-lights-up-brazil/vi-AAXZFYP?bk=1&ocid=msedgntp&cvid=86480501adf34bba8ced0c7851a56406&category=foryou

This video was posted on msn.com 1 June 2022: tau Herculids meteor shower as seen in Brazil.

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Photo Above: by Austin Schmid @Unsplash.com.

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Sources:

Malik, Tariq. (30 May 2022). How to watch the potential tau Herculids meteor storm live online tonight. “space.com.” (Retrieved 30 May 2022). https://www.space.com/meteor-storm-tau-herculids-shower-webcast?utm_source=notification.

Rao, Joe. (22 May 2022). A meteor shower outburst from a shattered comet may spawn new tau Herculids display on May 30. “space.com.” (Retrieved 30 May 2022). https://www.space.com/meteor-shower-outburst-tau-herculids-cohttps://www.space.com/meteor-shower-outburst-tau-herculids-comet-possible-2022met-possible-2022.

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Thanksgiving 2020

Thanksgiving 2020

a quindecim triad
~~ by tkbrown ~~
As Thanksgiving Day approaches our minds reflect
upon those things for which we can be thankful.
This year, in particular, as we attempt to deflect
some of the year's more unpleasant, distasteful
aspects recently passed, perhaps our thought
might linger on those very things we would rather
forget. The coronavirus, for instance, has wrought
havoc on the entire world, and still it grows . . . stronger.
Many have lost loved ones as it ravaged our homes,
our lives, our nations, our world. Has it beleaguered
our universe too? Our losses seem greater in domes
fabricated by the quarantines and other featured
components of our lives. Can we see--e'en for a moment
that we are blessed to be alive and able to ruminate
and to formulate gratitude in the losses we repudiate.

E'en through the unpleasant times and events
occurring throughout the year, our world has paused
to focus upon giving medical care in hospital tents
erected by the armed forces, necessitated and caused
by a desire to save lives. In countries large and small,
pharmaceutical teams have hovered over petri dishes,
laboring hours upon end, striving to answer the call
for vaccine and treatment options to grant wishes
and supply clinical trials. The scientific world
pulls together, competing to be the frontrunner
in this race with death after being hurled
headfirst into a wall toward which time's gunner
attempts to take away more precious lives.
Children are losing parents, and husbands are losing wives,
hospitals are losing the battle in which each strives.

As we approach this special Day of Thanksgiving,
I implore the world to join with us in prayer--
bowed heads and humble hearts of the living.
While we collectively ask for strength to care
about the needs of those who are hurting,
and join together in prayers of uplifting praise,
offering thanks for the resources relieving
limitations on production, mending the frays
of education, entertainment, and self-care.
Technology, far more advanced than ever before,
has opened doors and built bridges o'er
land and sea to bring a hurting world together.
Let us bow our heads in a world-wide prayer
thanking God for bringing us together
and for the support we receive from each other.

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Photo Above: by Tom Barret @ Unsplash.com.

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