The possible “unicorn meteor storm” predicted for Nov. 21 is named after the constellation Monoceros, Greek for unicorn. It is slated to start at 8 p.m. Pacific Time. (American Meteor Society)

The possible “unicorn meteor storm” predicted for Nov. 21 is named after the constellation Monoceros, Greek for unicorn. It is slated to start at 8 p.m. Pacific Time. (American Meteor Society)

Oh, shoot! ‘Unicorn meteor storm’ could light up sky — or not

Astronomers say rare storm could produce rates of 400 meteors per hour. It will only last an hour.

EVERETT — It could be a dud or an astronomical hit.

Tune into the sky Thursday night to find out how many shooting stars to give the alpha Monocerotids meteor storm.

Say what?

The debut of what is dubbed “Unicorn Meteor Storm” lacks the hype of “Frozen II.”

“Nobody had heard about it until the last week or so,” said Mark Folkerts, president of Everett Astronomical Society. “They’re saying, ‘Hey, by the way, there might be there this surprise burst of meteors.’”

It depends if the sky is clear and the science adds up.

It’s a prediction that is getting global attention by scientists and skygazers.

“They think there’s a potential for up to 400 meteors per hour,” Folkerts said.

Meteors are the breadcrumbs that comets leave behind. Meteor showers are sparked when the Earth passes through a field of cosmic debris.

Start looking for shooting stars at 8 p.m. Pacific Time. The outburst is expected to end by 9.

One hour. That’s it. That’s part of the rarity of this mysterious comet event.

The National Weather Service has forecast mostly clear skies over Everett on Thursday evening with a chance of patchy fog.

Folkerts said the best viewing area is away from streetlights, glare and trees, in a place with a wide view of the sky. The darker your sky, the more meteors you’ll see.

You won’t see any unicorns. Sorry.

Unicorns are mythical creatures, but this one is legit.

The meteors radiate from the faint constellation of Monoceros, which is Greek for unicorn. It is located to the left of powerhouse Orion.

“Meteor showers are usually referred to by the constellation behind where they appear to come from,” Folkerts said. “The common name is unicorn.”

The alpha Monocerotids are active every year around this date, but it’s usually a sprinkling of meteors. The four outbursts were in 1925, 1935, 1985 and 1995.

As comets orbit the sun, they shed particles of gas or dust.

“Comets are composed mostly of ice and bits of rocks and so forth. When they get close to the sun it vaporizes the ice and releases particles,” Folkerts said. “As the comet goes its orbit, it’s always losing bits of itself.”

Over time, those particles travel at different speeds and spread out along the path of the comet’s orbit. They tend to be kind of bunched up, based on proximity to the sun.

When the Earth’s orbit intersects once a year with the comet’s orbit, those particles can form a meteor shower — or a storm, if there’s gobs.

Scientists try to calculate when those bunched-up particles might be ready for a prime-time show.

“It is a prediction based on fairly limited data,” Folkerts said. “Like a lot of things in astronomy, we don’t know for certainty what is going happen.”

Here’s something for certain: The next meeting of Everett Astronomical Society is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at the main Everett Library.

Andrea Brown: abrown@heraldnet.com; 425-339-3443. Twitter @reporterbrown.

Talk to us

More in Local News

A memorial for a 15-year-old shot and killed last week is set up at a bus stop along Harrison Road on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Teen boy identified in fatal shooting at Everett bus stop

Bryan Tamayo-Franco, 15, was shot at a Hardeson Road bus stop earlier this month. Police arrested two suspects.

Mike Bredstrand, who is trying to get back his job with Lake Stevens Public Works, stands in front of the department’s building on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Lake Stevens, Washington. Bredstrand believes his firing in July was an unwarranted act of revenge by the city. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Lake Stevens worker was fired after getting court order against boss

The city has reportedly spent nearly $60,000 on attorney and arbitration fees related to Mike Bredstrand, who wants his job back.

Chap Grubb, founder and CEO of second-hand outdoor gear store Rerouted, stands inside his new storefront on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Gold Bar, Washington. Rerouted began as an entirely online shop that connected buyers and sellers of used gear.  (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Used outdoor gear shop Rerouted finds a niche in Gold Bar

Seeking to keep good outdoor gear out of landfills, an online reselling business has put down roots in Gold Bar.

Naval Station Everett. (Chuck Taylor / Herald file)
Everett man sentenced to 6 years for cyberstalking ex-wife

Christopher Crawford, 42, was found guilty of sending intimate photos of his ex-wife to adult websites and to colleagues in the Navy.

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers speaks to the crowd during an opening ceremony at the new PAE2 Amazon Fulfillment Center on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, in Arlington, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Snohomish County executive pitches $1.66B budget

Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers announced his proposed budget Tuesday afternoon. Public comment is slated to begin Oct. 10.

Boeing employees watch the KC-46 Pegasus delivery event  from the air stairs at Boeing on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Boeing’s iconic Everett factory tour to resume in October

After a three-year hiatus, tours of the Boeing Company’s enormous jet assembly plant are back at Paine Field.

Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman announces his retirement after 31 years of service at the Everett City Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett police chief to retire at the end of October

Chief Dan Templeman announced his retirement at Wednesday’s City Council meeting. He has been chief for nine years.

Jamel Alexander, center, listens as a Snohomish County jury records their verdict of guilty, in the murder of Shawna Brune, on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 in Everett, Washington.  Alexander was convicted in the first degree murder of Brune. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Appeals court orders new trial in Everett woman’s stomping death

Appellate judges ruled that additional evidence should have been admitted in Jamel Alexander’s trial for the murder of Shawna Brune.

Kristy Carrington, CEO of Providence Swedish of North Puget Sound, speaks during a Healthcare Summit at Everett Community College on Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Providence, Optum and Premera discuss challenges at Everett summit

Five panelists spoke on labor shortages, high costs and health care barriers Wednesday at Everett Community College.

Most Read