Meteor shower 2022: How to watch and

The 2022 Tau Herculid meteor shower will potentially dazzle stargazers around the world. Although this is said to be an “all or nothing” event, astronomers are extremely excited because this is an entirely new meteor shower.

Fortunately, this event occurs on the New Moon, in May 2022, which means that the moonlight will not mask the cosmic event. Meteor showers occur when small objects hit Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to burn. So what you see when you wish on a shooting star is actually debris from a comet’s trail, making its fiery passage through our atmosphere.

This potential new meteor shower comes from the trail of Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 (SW3), a comet discovered in 1930. According to the Washington Post (opens in a new tab)this comet has been in the process of disintegrating since October 16, 2011. This disintegration began after it came closest to the Sun and its fragments, if they hit our atmosphere, will provide a breathtaking spectacle.

(Image credit: SKY2014/Getty images)

when is the next meteor shower?

According to Space.com (opens in a new tab)the tau Herculid meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of May 30 and early in the morning of May 31. Well, that’s if it happens at all.

Bill Cooke, who heads NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office (opens in a new tab) said, “This is going to be an all-or-nothing event.”

“If the debris from SW3 was traveling over 220 miles per hour when it separated from the comet, we could see a nice meteor shower,” he explained. “If the debris had slower ejection velocities, then nothing will happen to Earth and there will be no meteors from this comet.”

meteor showers in astrology

(Image credit: Getty/Canva)

The 2022 lunar calendar shows the seriousness of the lunar cycle in astrology – but do meteor showers have an influence too? Bex Milford (opens in a new tab) – an astrologer, cosmic coach, crystal healer and founder of Cosmic Cures (opens in a new tab) – spoke to woman&home about how meteor showers affect astrology.

As we mentioned before, meteors are basically chunks of rock and ice left behind by a comet or asteroid, and when Earth moves through this trail of cosmic debris, we experience a meteor shower. This, says Bex, has great gravity.

“As they symbolize a sort of ‘collapse’, they can bring about big changes, much the same way eclipses do in astrology,” she says. “At the time of a meteor shower, it’s important to notice any revelations, flashes of insight, or sudden impulses that suggest something has ‘break through’ to the surface for you.”

Considering that meteors are crumbling chunks of rock and ice, they can also be seen as a representation of the “hard parts” within – which we keep hidden from the outside world. Think about the fears and emotions that have been frozen within us.

(Image credit: bjdlzx/Getty Images)

Bex explains: “If we have suffered trauma or still have wounds that we still have to deal with, then the ‘trauma’ left by them can come to the surface, so this is an important time to sit down with feelings and embrace healing.

The astrologer adds that these amazing events can help us if we’re struggling to understand a situation or solve a problem – helping us find the right approach. “Almost as if the problem had been ‘broken down,'” she adds, “in the same way that the comet has now shattered into smaller pieces.”

This means it is possible to connect on a much deeper level to the intuitive wisdom within us – to learn more about our true selves, our motives, our dreams.

Bex also suggests that this is a fantastic time for setting intentions and manifesting your deepest desires. What else do you wish for a star after all?

How to Watch the Tau Herculid Meteor Shower

While it’s unclear whether or not it will happen, if you want to give it a shot, the best way to watch it is to step out and watch the night sky. You will have to find a place that is not too bright, so in the countryside if possible, and be prepared to wait because it will take time for your eyes to adapt.

Why not bring a blanket, chair, hot drinks and a picnic – and make a night of it. Maybe even grab a notepad and a pen so you can jot down any feelings that come up and set some intentions as well.