These meteors could erupt as our planet passes through the Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 comet, which is disintegrating (SW3). This isn’t simply an exciting chance for astronomy fans; comet researchers are also looking forward to the rendezvous. The meteor shower could surprise (or disappoint) on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30) and last through early Tuesday, according to NASA.
By cometary standards, SW3 is fairly close to the Sun; it orbits our star every five years. It began to fracture in 1995, shattering into dozens of smaller fragments and leaving a cloud of debris that orbited the sun.
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Comets have divided in the past. According to NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Sofia Science Center, one out of every 100 periodic comets — or more — could break up at some point.
The famous Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 disintegrated in the 1990s, with a large portion of it crashing into Jupiter. But even if SW3’s continued decay looks similar, the process “is almost certainly not the same,” Reach told Space.com.
Scientists aren’t sure why comets break up. It can be one factor or a combination of several factors. For example, Shoemaker-Levy 9 collapsed under the pressure of Jupiter’s powerful gravity. However, when volatile compounds in some other comets, such as water, heat up and vaporize from the solid phase, they can break up.
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In addition, the constant wobble of comets from the inner solar system to the cooler outer reaches and back places thermal stress on the body. With enough repetitive stress, something can give way.
Today’s meteor shower, Meteor Shower Calendar 2021-2022
