Earth will pass through 18th century comet tail this weekend - surprises are possible from the first Camelopardalids meteor shower

[Emily]

http://www.timesofoman.com/News/34050/Article-Brace-for-rare-meteor-showers-on-May-23-in-Oman

Brace for rare meteor showers on May 23 in Oman
by Times News Service | May 19, 2014 , 10 : 55 pm GST

Few years back, meteor experts Esko Lyytinen of Finland and Peter Jenniskens at Nasa Ames Research Centre announced that Earth was due for an encounter with debris from Comet 209P/LINEAR.

Streams of dust ejected by the comet mainly back in the 18th century would cross Earth's orbit on May 23, 2014. The result, they said, could be a significant meteor outburst...

http://www.universetoday.com/111474/may-meteor-storm-alert-all-eyes-on-the-sky/

May Meteor Storm Alert: All Eyes on the Sky!

by Bob King on April 28, 2014

On Friday night/early Saturday May 23-24 skywatchers across the U.S. and southern Canada may witness the birth of a brand new meteor shower. If predictions hold true, Earth will pass through multiple tendrils of dust and pebbly bits left behind by comet 209P/LINEAR, firing up a celestial display on par with the strongest showers of the year. Or better....

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2014/06may_newshower/

A New Meteor Shower in May?


May 6, 2014: The head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, Dr. Bill Cooke, often lets cameras do his sky watching for him. He and his colleagues operate a nationwide network of automated fireball observatories that capture anything that burns into Earth?s atmosphere.

On the morning of May 24th, however, he plans to go out in person.

"There could be a new meteor shower, and I want to see it with my own eyes," says Cooke.

...

"We expect these meteors to radiate from a point in Camelopardalis, also known as 'the giraffe', a faint constellation near the North Star," he continues. "It will be up all night long for anyone who wishes to watch throughout the night."

Indeed, that might be a good idea. Because this is a new meteor shower, surprises are possible. Outbursts could occur hours before or after the forecasted peak.
Credits:

Author: Dr. Tony Phillips