I've heard this thing about there being an asteroid tail that earth is passing through???

Question

i heard that the planet is supposed to be passing through an asteroid tail or metor tail in the next couple days and its supposed to be really cool. Is it true and what day and time can I see it??

Answer 1

Asteroids don't have tails.
But comets do, and the debris from those comet tails actually stays in the orbit of the comet. So every year, when the Earth passes through the debris trail, we get a meteor shower.
The debris is small stuff, dust and tiny pebbles. But when they hit our atmosphere, they burn up from the friction and we get "shooting stars" in the sky.

There are a lot of meteor showers each year, some are small with not much activity, some are strong showers with a lot of meteors an hour.
The one this weekend is considered a medium shower, called the Alpha Aurigids. Each one is named for the constellation that they seem to come from (called the "radiant").
The estimate is that about 60 meteors an hour will be visible at its peak (which is September 1st.). The best time for any meteor shower is after around 2:00 am local time.

You can see meteors almost any night, especially if you are far from any bright lights or a city.
But a meteor shower is like fireworks, it is an amazing sight.

Answer 2

Our very own NJ'z has given us another annoying comment made by those who consume meat: if a cow had the chance it would eat you! No, it really would not. Cows don't eat meat. I had someone once ask me that if someone was holding a chicken sandwich in one hand and a chicken in the other and they told you you had to either eat the chicken sandwich or they would kill the chicken right there in front of you, which would you do? Haha, I thought that was very amusing. Either one dead chicken, or two? I wonder what most vegetarians would choose... I have to admit that the whole you won't be healthy as a vegetarian thing really bugs me. Especially since most of the people who tell you that will say it as they have a plate of fried food in front of them. I've spent plenty of time researching nutrition for vegetarians and I feel quite healthy, much healtheir than when I consumed meat and knew nothing of the vitamins and minerals I needed, so thanks for the faux-concern, but no thanks. I do have to say, most people just let it go and don't get all fussy when they find out I don't eat meat, dairy, or eggs. But, there does always seem to be that person every once in a while that just can't let it go.

Answer 3

That is a meteor shower. They happen all the time, but most people ignore them. It is hard to see meteors these days because city lights make the sky so bright than only the rare bright ones can be seen unless you make a special trip out to the dark countryside to look. And the best time to look is usually well after midnight, which is really inconvenient.

Answer 4

there was a comet whose tail we passed through at approx 4am pacific time this morning. August 31st.

Answer 5

Asteroids don't have tails, so maybe you meant comet?