Anticipating an Intensified Northern Taurid Meteor Shower Filled with Brilliant Meteors
Northern Taurid meteor shower set to dazzle the night sky with its celestial spectacle on Sunday Brace yourself for a breathtaking display of extra-bright meteors as debris from a comet family promises an unforgettable celestial show Don't miss this peak event of the year!
Subscribe to CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter to stay updated on captivating discoveries, scientific progress, and more. The remaining phase of the Taurid meteor shower approaches, as one of its two streams reaches its highest point this weekend. Watch for the Northern Taurids, a yearly minor shower, to display its liveliest activity, granting observers the potential to witness the brilliance of a few shooting stars illuminating the nocturnal panorama.
The Southern Taurids reached their peak on November 5th and have been visible in the night sky since mid-October. The Northern Taurids, on the other hand, are expected to reach their peak at approximately 7:21 p.m. ET on Sunday, according to EarthSky.
Both meteor showers originate from a comet known as Encke and typically have a low rate of five meteors per hour. However, due to the larger size of the debris, ranging up to 1 meter (3 feet) in diameter, Taurid meteors appear brighter as they streak through the atmosphere, explained Bill Cooke, the leader of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office, in an interview with CNN.
The Taurids often produce bright meteors that are even more luminous than Venus, the second-brightest object in the night sky after the moon. These meteors, referred to as fireballs by NASA, can be quite impressive. NASA scientist Cooke advises those interested in observing the Taurids to be prepared for a lengthy session, potentially lasting all night. This includes making oneself comfortable, bringing necessary items like a sleeping bag or cot, dressing appropriately for the weather, and being ready to spend hours outside.
NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL
A fascinating revelation has been observed in recent NASA mission images during an asteroid flyby. The Northern Taurids will experience their peak activity a few nights before and after Sunday, as mentioned by the American Meteor Society. The optimal time to catch a glimpse of a meteor will be after midnight in any time zone, provided that local weather conditions permit. It appears that the radiant constellation Taurus is the source of the meteor shower, with its highest visibility in the sky occurring during the early morning hours, as per Cooke's statement.
The American Meteor Society states that the upcoming new moon phase will have the moon illuminated at a mere 2%, making it the perfect time for meteor observation without any interference from the moon's brightness.
The Taurid rates are lower this year, however, the American Meteor Society has observed an increase in the Southern Taurids activity every three or seven years, resulting in double the rates. Cooke predicts that the next opportunity to witness a "Taurid swarm" will be in 2025.
Cooke states that the Northern Taurids are believed to be remnants of multiple asteroids that were previously associated with Comet Encke. These asteroids separated from the comet along with other celestial objects tens of thousands of years ago.
When the Encke Complex, celestial objects with their own orbital journey around the sun, traverse their path, they create a debris trail. This trail intersects with Earth's orbit and manifests as the Taurid meteor showers.
The panchromatic view of galaxy cluster MACS0416 was produced by merging infrared observations from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope with visible-light data from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The image showcases a striking array of galaxies, with blue representing shorter wavelengths, red representing longer wavelengths, and green representing intermediate wavelengths. This comprehensive coverage, spanning from 0.4 to 5 microns, presents a captivating and vibrant depiction of the universe.
New image of galaxy clusters captivates as captured by Hubble and Webb space telescopes
At times, larger-than-average meteoroids, such as the Taurids, manage to traverse Earth's atmosphere and remain undamaged. Once they descend to the ground, they are referred to as meteorites.
"Majority of meteoroids disintegrate high above the ground and do not reach the Earth's surface. However, the larger ones, approximately the size of a boulder, may fragment and distribute meteorites upon impact," stated Cooke. He further noted that these meteorites are generally small and pose minimal threat of causing damage. According to NASA's calculations, roughly 48.5 tons (44,000 kilograms) of space debris enters the Earth's atmosphere on a daily basis.
"Once a meteorite makes contact with the ground, it will have cooled down," assured Cooke. "There is no risk of ignition or flames; in fact, it will be cold to the touch and safe to handle."
Meteor showers have yet to reach their peak this year. The Northern Taurids will continue to light up the sky until December 2, marking the end of the showers. If you're excited to witness more meteor showers, here are the upcoming peaks in 2023:
â Leonids: November 17-18
â Geminids: December 13-14
â Ursids: December 21-22
Full moons
There are two full moons remaining in 2023, according to the Farmers Almanac:
â November 27: Beaver moon
â December 26: Cold moon
