On December 22nd, the Earth will be showered with meteors from the Comet 8P/ Tuttle, as it passes through the trail of comet dust. Look to Ursa Minor to see the event.
Recently, I’ve had friends and family suggest that I write an article about the meteor showers and comet trail that Earth will be passing through on Dec. 22nd, because they know I am the Feature Writer for “Meteorology & Climatology”. So, I thought I would pass on the information, to appease their interest, even though I personally would seek out the information from an Astronomy writer. ;)
On December 22, 2007, the Earth will pass through the trail of the Comet 8P/Tuttle. While passing through the trail of comet dust, inhabitants of Earth will be able to see the dust and debris, appearing as meteors in the sky. The comet is said to be as big as comet Halley, yet not as bright. During the previous years the comet passed by Earth, most recently 1980 and 1994, “dozens of meteors per hour” were visible from the Ursa-Minor area of the sky. The meteor show is nicknamed “the Ursids” for this reason.
Yet, the meteor shower may be hard to see from North America, as the peak time will occur during daylight hours, and an almost full moon doesn’t help the viewing during evening hours either. But, those who brave the cold of winter, venturing outside in the dark, may be in for a real treat as the comet is sure to have “a strong Perseid-level shower in store for us” (SETI Institute, Meteor Astronomer Carl Sagan Center, 2007).
