Space
Taurid Meteor Swarm Hits Night Skies This Week! Watch for Fireballs
Catherine Griffin
First Posted: Nov 05, 2015 09:52 AM EST
The Taurid meteor shower may be shining extra bright this week. NASA scientists have announced that the annual Taurid meteor shower is about to put on a once-in-a-decade event, known as the Taurid meteor swarm.
Meteor showers, which feature "shooting stars" are relatively common. They're actually the result of pieces of debris hitting Earth's atmosphere, heating up to incandescence, and streaking across the sky as the Earth moves through space.
The Taurid meteor shower occurs every year between September and December as Earth passes through debris trailing behind Comet Encke. Because the Taurids last for several weeks, they're divided into two separate showers. There's the "South Taurids," which peak today, Thursday (Nov. 5) and the "North Taurids," which peak a week later on Thursday (Nov. 12).
This year, though, we may be in for a treat: fireballs. The increased number of fireballs from the Taurids this year can be blamed on the fact that earth is encountering larger than normal particles being shed by the comet.
Over the next few nights, be sure to look up. You're going to want to catch a glimpse of this meteor shower that's predicted to be absolutely spectacular. Make sure you're away from bright, city lights and simply enjoy the sky show.
Related Stories
Massive, Early Cataclysm on Earth and the Moon Questioned
Ceres is a Cosmic Dartboard for Asteroids and Comets, New Study Reveals
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
©2024 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
More on SCIENCEwr
First Posted: Nov 05, 2015 09:52 AM EST
The Taurid meteor shower may be shining extra bright this week. NASA scientists have announced that the annual Taurid meteor shower is about to put on a once-in-a-decade event, known as the Taurid meteor swarm.
Meteor showers, which feature "shooting stars" are relatively common. They're actually the result of pieces of debris hitting Earth's atmosphere, heating up to incandescence, and streaking across the sky as the Earth moves through space.
The Taurid meteor shower occurs every year between September and December as Earth passes through debris trailing behind Comet Encke. Because the Taurids last for several weeks, they're divided into two separate showers. There's the "South Taurids," which peak today, Thursday (Nov. 5) and the "North Taurids," which peak a week later on Thursday (Nov. 12).
This year, though, we may be in for a treat: fireballs. The increased number of fireballs from the Taurids this year can be blamed on the fact that earth is encountering larger than normal particles being shed by the comet.
Over the next few nights, be sure to look up. You're going to want to catch a glimpse of this meteor shower that's predicted to be absolutely spectacular. Make sure you're away from bright, city lights and simply enjoy the sky show.
Related Stories
Massive, Early Cataclysm on Earth and the Moon Questioned
Ceres is a Cosmic Dartboard for Asteroids and Comets, New Study Reveals
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone