Rare Meteor Shower May Be Visible From Illinois Tonight

This will be something to see should the clouds clear up tonight.

A meteor shower called alpha Monocerotid might cause an "outburst" which may be visible should the clouds take a break. This astronomical event hasn't happened in two decades, according to Chicago Tribune.

For the first time in more than two decades, the alpha Monocerotid meteor shower could morph into a meteor outburst, meaning that for a short period of time late Thursday, you might be able to see several meteors a minute.

This difference between alpha Monocerotid and other meteor showers is this one will involve several "bits of comet material disintegrating above your head" instead of a few big meteors. You'll have to stay up late tonight if you're hoping for a view.

... if the skies clear, about 10:15 p.m. will be the time when the radiant point appears over the horizon. By 11 p.m. the outburst should be over.

Should anyone in the 815 actually catch this spectacular occurrence and you miss it, don't worry because there will be pics you can see on Facebook and Instagram... except the pics will likely be dark and hard to see.

[H/T Chicago Tribune]

JB Love is ½ of  Q98.5's Lil Zim & JB In The Morning, weekday mornings from 5:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. Follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.