Where and When the Meteor Shower Might Be Visible Tonight
It is not certain that the shower, dubbed the Tau Herculid shower, will happen. But if it does, the sky could be filled with a thousand shooting stars.
Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through the fragmented remains of a comet or asteroid
Meteor showers are caused when the Earth moves through the cloud of gas that is released from the comet as it passes near to the sun.
If the shower takes place, it will be caused by the comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann or SW3.
NASA said the comet disappeared from sight in the 1970s, and reappeared in 1995.
The comet has passed Earth previously in 2006, and was in 70 pieces. Since then, it has continued to break apart.
The shower is due to peak during the night of May 30, and into the early morning of May 31.
Astronomers have predicted that observers on the East Coast will have the best chance of seeing the display at 1 a.m
Astronomers have predicted that observers on the East Coast will have the best chance of seeing the display at 1 a.m