Watch the May Camelopardalids Meteor Shower Live From Comet 209P/LINEAR on May 24, 2014

Tonight! Watch the May Camelopardalids Meteor Shower Live:

Tonight at 9:30 p.m. EDT (01:30 UTC), watch live Ustream views of the skies, including a view from NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. Before 9:30 p.m. EDT, you will either see recorded footage or a blank screen. If you see a blank box, this indicates that the camera is functioning properly and transitioning from daylight to dark. You can also access the Ustream feed here:

Scientists anticipate a new meteor shower tonight: the May Camelopardalids, resulting from the dust of periodic comet 209P/LINEAR. No one has seen it before, but the shower could put on a prolific show. The shower is predicted to be active on May 24, 02:30 – 11:00 UTC (May 23, 10:30 p.m. to May 24, 7 a.m. EDT). The peak is projected between 06:00 – 08:00 UTC (2-4 a.m EDT). This will be a one-night-only event.

“Some forecasters have predicted a meteor storm of more than 200 meteors per hour,” said Bill Cooke, lead for NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “We have no idea what the comet was doing in the 1800s. The parent comet doesn’t appear to be very active now, so there could be a great show, or there could be little activity.”

Tonight from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. EDT (03:00-07:00 UTC), NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke will host a live web chat. Simply return to this page at 11 p.m. EDT (03:00 UTC). The chat module will live at that time. Sign in, then ask your questions.

› Viewing tips, projected rates, other FAQs
› Audio: Dr. Bill Cooke discusses May Camelopardalids (mp3s) Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

NEW METEOR SHOWER ON EARTH AND THE MOON: Anticipation is building as Earth approaches a cloud of debris from Comet 209P/LINEAR. This weekend, meteoroids hitting Earth’s atmosphere could produce a never-before-seen shower called the “May Camelopardalids” peaking with as many as 200 meteors per hour. The best time to look is on Saturday, May 24th, between 0600 UT and 0800 UT (2 a.m. and 4 a.m. EDT).

Earth won’t be the only body passing through the debris zone. The Moon will be, too. Meteoroids hitting the lunar surface could produce explosions visible through backyard telescopes on Earth. The inset in this picture of an actual lunar meteor shows the region of the crescent Moon on May 24th that could be pelted by May Camelopardalids:

According to NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office, the best time for amateur astronomers to scan the Moon for lunar meteors is after 0800 UT (4 a.m. EDT) on May 24th.

There is much uncertainty about the strength of this shower, both on Earth and on the Moon. In recent history, our planet has never passed directly through a debris stream from Comet 209P/LINEAR, so no one knows exactly how much comet dust lies ahead. A magnificent meteor shower could erupt, with streaks of light in terrestrial skies and sparkling explosions on the Moon–or it could be a complete dud. Stay tuned!

Space Wether, Real Time Galery Comet Linear Images:

For mor about Comet 209P/LINEAR and Meteor Shower visit:

May Camelopardalids: Meteorite Impact on Eart and the Moon From Comet 209P/LINEAR on May 24, 2014
Credit: W1TV

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