| Tau Herculids | |
|---|---|
| |
| Parent body | 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann |
| Radiant | |
| Constellation | Boötes[1] |
| Right ascension | 13h56m |
| Declination | +28° |
| Properties | |
| Occurs during | May 19 – June 19 |
| Date of peak | May 31[1] |
| Velocity | 16[1] km/s |
| Zenithal hourly rate | variable (Class III) |
| See also: List of meteor showers | |
The Tau Herculids (TAH #0061) are a meteor shower that when discovered in 1930 appeared to originate from the star Tau Herculis. The parent comet of the Tau Herculids is periodic comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 with a 5.4 year orbital period. This meteor shower occurs from May 19 - June 19. The meteor shower was first observed by the Kwasan Observatory in Kyoto, Japan in May 1930. The Tau Herculids' average radiant was α=236°, δ=+41°.[2] Due to orbital perturbations of the meteor streamsbyJupiter, 2022 activity will have a radiantofR.A. = 13:56 (209), Decl. = +28 (North-West of the star Arcturus in the constellation Boötes).[1] The meteors are relatively slow moving making atmospheric entry at around 16 km/s (36,000 mph).
On 31 May 1930 the comet passed about 0.062 AU (9.3 million km; 5.8 million mi) from Earth,[3] on 9 June 1930 a meteor outburst with a zenithal hourly rate of around 100 was observed,[4] and then the comet passed perihelion (closest approach to the Sun) on 14 June 1930.
On 30–31 May 2022 (31 May 4:00-5:00 UT) there was a modest meteor shower generated by fragments from the 1995 break-up of the parent comet 73P.[5][6] This required that fragments had been migrating ahead of the comet for the last 27 years.[7] The parent comet has 69 known fragments[8] and does not come to perihelion (0.97 AU from the Sun) until 25 August 2022.[9] On 30 May 2022 comet 73P/Schwassmann–Wachmann was 1.5 AU from the Sun and 1.4 AU (210 million km) from Earth.[10] The next notable appearances of the Tau Herculids are expected in 2033[6] and 2049.[4]
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