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After a new meteor shower, the peak is expected to occur next week. On Thursday morning, at about noon, this new meteor shower, which is expected to be named Lambda-Sculptorídeas, will begin.
The new meteor shower was described in an article available on the preprint server arXiv. The report states that the event reaches its peak next week, in the southern hemisphere, and is attributed to the world-renowned meteorologist Jeremie Vaubaillon of the Paris Observatory in France.
According to the study, this new rain is expected to be born next Thursday (12) between 5 and 9.30 in the morning, according to Brasília time. The possible name for the shower is Lambda-Sculptorídeas, given that the location of the radiant is close to the star -Sculptoris (Lambda Sculptoris).
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Although this information comes to fruition, comet 46P/Wirtanen will be considered the cause of the likely meteor shower.
This little comet, with an estimated diameter of 1.2 km and an orbital period of 5.4 years, was photographed on January 17, 1948, by the American astronomer Carl A. Wirtanen. The object took more than a year to be identified as a short-period comet, due to a limited number of initial observations.
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Known as Comet 46P/Wirtanen, the National Solar System image was released by NASA in December 2018. On the sixteenth, he had passed within a few million kilometers of Earth, which is thirty times the distance to Mercury.
Usually, it has to go a long way around the Earth before it can be seen. However, on its most recent visit, it got as close as it needed to be seen at this very moment: it was the twelfth closest approach of a comet to Earth in the entire modern period and one of the brightest in the last 20 years.
Before that, it was seen in 2007, 2012, and 2017. According to the models, Earth would have found a triangle of debris at least in 2007 and 2018, which may have caused meteor showers but was never officially recorded. On each of these occasions, the astronomers who recorded the discovery followed the phenomenon’s evolution and are now waiting for a peer review of their results.
On November 17, 2018, one hour before sunrise, this meteor was photographed in Blauen, Germany, showing that it is possible, albeit much more difficult, to see these events during the day. Photo credit: Stephane Vetter (Sacred Nights), TWAN-APOD/NASA.
Due to the slow entry velocity and relatively small sizes of the meteoroids, the discoverers of the new meteor shower comment that observations will be a challenge. Even so, we encourage meteor enthusiasts to conduct scientific observations and send their reports to the International Meteorological Organization (IMO),” the article says.
Can the new meteor shower be seen?
In Brazil, viewing will not be good, according to astronomer Marcelo Zurita, who presides over the Paraibana Astronomy Association (APA), is a member of the Brazilian Astronomical Society (SAB), technical director of the Brazilian Meteor Observation Network (BRAMON) and columnist from Olhar Digital. “Most notably because, being a new crop, it is not very spread out. After that, the peak is the time when meteors are most frequented, occurring during the morning, with an expectation of 10 meteors per hr.
This year, Australia will be the best place on Earth to see this new storm, although even there, it will not be easy to see the meteors at the beginning of the night of the 12th. The difficulty will be caused by the intensity of the meteors. Zurita warns that these trails will not generate much light as they are generated by small particles and reach the Earth at a relatively low speed, around 11 km/s. “Furthermore, it remains a good match for those who go there to observe meteors.”
The Lambda-Sculptorídeas meteor shower is an exciting event that has generated a lot of buzz among astronomers and space enthusiasts. With its peak expected to take place next week, many are excited to witness this celestial spectacle.
First reported in an article on the preprint server arXiv, this meteor shower is said to be the brainchild of renowned meteorologist Jeremie Vaubaillon from the Paris Observatory in France. The report indicates that the peak of the event will occur in the southern hemisphere, specifically on Thursday morning.
Named after the star Lambda Sculptoris, the Lambda-Sculptorídeas meteor shower is anticipated to be a sight to behold. It is believed that this cosmic phenomenon will originate between 5 and 9.30 in the morning, according to Brasília time. Astronomers are keeping a close eye on this event as it promises to be an extraordinary occurrence.
Although the cause of this meteor shower is still under study, experts are leaning towards comet 46P/Wirtanen as the likely culprit. This small celestial body, with an estimated diameter of 1.2 km and an orbital period of 5.4 years, was initially discovered by American astronomer Carl A. Wirtanen in 1948. However, it took more than a year to identify it as a short-period comet due to limited initial observations.
Comet 46P/Wirtanen has been intriguing astronomers since its discovery. In December 2018, NASA released an image of this celestial traveler, revealing its close proximity to Earth. It had passed within a few million kilometers of our planet, which is 30 times the distance to Mercury. This close encounter made it one of the brightest comets of the last 20 years and the twelfth closest approach of a comet to Earth in modern history.
Interestingly, this is not the first time comet 46P/Wirtanen has made an appearance. It was also visible in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Researchers have suggested that debris from the comet may have caused meteor showers during these years, although no official records exist to confirm this. Nevertheless, astronomers who documented the discovery of the phenomenon have been closely monitoring its evolution, eagerly awaiting a peer review of their findings.
Given the slow entry velocity and relatively small sizes of the meteoroids, observing this new meteor shower may prove to be a challenge. However, meteor enthusiasts are encouraged to conduct scientific observations and submit their reports to the International Meteorological Organization (IMO). This valuable data will contribute to our understanding of this celestial event and help unravel some of its mysteries.
While the Lambda-Sculptorídeas meteor shower holds great promise, its visibility may not be optimal in certain locations. According to Brazilian astronomer Marcelo Zurita, viewing conditions will not be ideal in Brazil. As it is a new phenomenon, the meteor shower is not widely spread out. Additionally, the peak of the shower is expected to occur during the morning, with an estimated rate of 10 meteors per hour.
However, Australia is poised to offer the best viewing opportunities for this new meteor shower. Although observing the meteors at the beginning of the night on the 12th may be challenging due to their intensity, it is still a worthwhile endeavor for those passionate about astronomy. Zurita advises that the trails produced by the meteors may not generate much light, as they are caused by small particles that enter the Earth’s atmosphere at a relatively low speed of around 11 km/s.
In conclusion, the Lambda-Sculptorídeas meteor shower is an eagerly anticipated event set to captivate skywatchers around the world. With its peak expected next week, astronomers and space enthusiasts are eagerly preparing to witness the beauty and spectacle of this celestial phenomenon. As we eagerly await its arrival, let us marvel at the wonders of the universe and continue to explore the mysteries of the cosmos.
