Astronomical event could be on horizon

By Phil Cobb | May 20, 2014 |

Nature’s nightlights might shine a little brighter early Saturday, but the potential lightshow isn’t a sure-fire guarantee.

Some astronomers are calling for quite a display between the hours of 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. Saturday, as the earth passes through debris left in the 1800s by the comet 209P/LINEAR.

However, the experts aren’t completely sure about the possibility of a meteor shower, or, as some have labeled it, “meteor storm.” The event could develop into a dazzling midnight display or fade like the night sky, depending on whom you ask.

“This isn’t one of the regularly-scheduled meteor showers,” said physicist John Shaw, an associate professor at Northwest Missouri State University. “Some are predicting that it’s going to be just a really huge event and the opportunity of a lifetime. Others are basically predicting it to be sort of a bust. The truth of the matter is nobody really knows.”

Shaw earned a Ph.D. in physics from Purdue University and teaches courses in astronomy, physics, electronics and quantum mechanics.

The cause of the possible “shooting stars,” 209P/LINEAR, was discovered in 2004 by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research Project.

While staying up for the shower will make for a late night, Shaw suggested the early hour show could be well worth the wait, if it does indeed happen.

“Meteor showers can last for maybe an hour or so as the earth is moving through the debris,” Shaw said. “Some last longer, though. The bigger meteor showers can last for some hours.”

While there are a number of atypical meteor showers throughout the year, such events aren’t exactly rare, Shaw said.

This particular comet orbits the sun once every five years, and the prediction for the shower is based on the comet’s orbital path. It’s one of Jupiter’s family of comets and strays as far from the sun as the orbit of its mother planet.

Much like stargazing, open, dim areas are appropriate for the best view of this event. Shaw suggests Mozingo Lake as a prime spot.

“You don’t need anything more than the naked eye,” Shaw said. “Any kind of astronomical event is always best viewed out in the country, so it’s a good time to go out to Mozingo. The lights from the city interfere with what you see. … Go out, set up a chair and look north.”