'Major meteor outburst': Monday could bring a large meteor shower if all conditions are met
If the weather holds out and the right conditions are met in space, Manitobans will be able to see a spectacular meteor shower Monday night.
Scott Young, a planetary astronomer at the Manitoba Museum, said there is a chance a very significant meteor shower could be seen.
"There is a possibility and I stress possibility, of a major meteor outburst. Basically, there will be a whole bunch of falling stars all at once," said Young. "The reason it's a possibility is the source of this particular meteor shower, is not a regular comet…this one is a comet that sort of disintegrated, so it's in all these pieces, which is good if it comes in our direction. But because it is disintegrated, we can't be sure to say that it will be close enough to cause these things."
Young said if the event does happen, we could see thousands of meteors per hour, which would be "10 times better" than any other meteor event in recent history.
Unfortunately, Young said people won't know until it actually happens.
He said the comet originally disintegrated back in 1995 and the cloud of space dust it left behind has become wider and wider over the years. But, if the debris isn't moving fast enough, then nothing will happen.
"So the thought is the earth is going to hit the edge of the debris cloud on Monday night…there is a lot of solid science behind it, but it is basically a mathematical forecast. Whether it happens or not, will actually be a real good test of our understanding of how these comets and meteor streams work after they disintegrate like this. It's a good way to advance science, as well as if it does happen it will be a fun thing to watch."
Young said even if the conditions are met in space, Manitoba will be weather dependent on if people will be able to see it or not, as rain is in the forecast which will bring a lot of cloud cover.
"All of this activity happens up above the cloud level. So if it's raining down here on the earth, you aren't going to see anything."
If the weather does clear up, Young suggests people move away from city lights and find a dark place as this will give the best opportunity to see the shower.
If the cloud cover stays, there is a different way the Manitoba Museum plans on finding the meteors.
"The museum will do a live stream and if it's clear we will have a camera. If it's not clear, we're actually going to use radio detection. If you listen to a radio station that is too far to pick up, every once and a while when a meteor goes over, the radio waves will bounce off the meteor and you can hear the radio station for a second. So we will actually be able to hear the meteors with a radio station."
If the shower does happen, it should get underway around 11:45 p.m. on Monday and last until around 1:15 a.m. on Tuesday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.