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    Prepare for the Taurid meteor showers: how and when to observe them

    Umito Posted on

    Astronomers are in for a celestial treat as two sister meteor showers, the Southern Taurids and Northern Taurids, are currently visible in the night sky. The Southern Taurids are expected to peak on the night of Monday, November 4 to Tuesday, November 5, while the Northern Taurids are expected to peak on November 12. Both meteor showers are known to produce intensely bright fireballs that can light up the sky.

    According to ABC News Australia, the Taurids meteor shower can be seen in Australia’s night sky Monday evening and into the early hours of Tuesday. These meteor showers are long-lasting, observable until December, with less clearly defined peaks. This year’s conditions for viewing the Taurid meteor shower should be ideal with minimal light interference, as the Southern Taurids will peak one evening with only a thin crescent moon only 11% filled.

    The Taurid meteor shower comes from debris left by comet Encke during its transit in the orbit of the Sun. When Comet Encke passes through our solar system, fragments of it enter Earth’s atmosphere at incredibly fast speeds and create fireballs. During this time, observers will be able to see for a few moments dust from comet Encke hanging in the night sky, fleetingly illuminating it.

    Most meteor showers originate from comet debris, and the Southern and Northern Taurids share the same parent source, Comet 2P/Encke. When space fragments enter Earth’s atmosphere, air resistance heats them, causing them to glow and leave glowing trails, known as “shooting stars.” Bright air pockets around these fast-moving space rocks, ranging from the size of a dust particle to a boulder, can be visible in the night sky.

    Taurid meteors are generally slow moving but can be very bright, often appearing as very bright fireballs known for their extreme brightness and sometimes colorful displays. The fireballs produced by meteor showers tend to be brighter and longer lasting than those of other meteor showers. Sally Brummel, manager of the planetarium at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum, said: “What’s remarkable is that they are likely to produce brighter and longer-lasting meteors than some other showers, even if there aren’t that many at once. ยป according to the Associated Press.

    The Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers tend to produce around five slow-moving meteors per hour in clear conditions and dark skies. The maximum intensity of the Southern Taurids is estimated between 6.3 and 6.9 meteors per hour and that of the Northern Taurids between 4.2 and 4.8 meteors per hour.

    Jonti Horner, from the University of Southern Queensland, commented on the Taurids, saying: “For the general public, I wouldn’t recommend setting an alarm to get up and watch them,” as reported by ABC News Australia. He added: “Of course, if you’re up then watch it, but it might be a bit disappointing.” However, he noted that the Taurides are good for photographers. “It’s also good for photographers, because of the relatively slow and brighter meteors,” Jonti Horner said. The Taurids create meteors that last longer than other showers, making them ideal for camera capture.

    The best time to view the Taurid meteor shower is usually after midnight, particularly between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., when the constellation Taurus is highest in the sky and the night sky is darkest. Jonti Horner advised: “The rain will peak around 1am and 2am, but you’ll see meteors around 9 or 10pm.” He also suggested preparing for a long night if you plan to stay awake. “Be prepared for a long night if you stay up. I would say between 11 p.m. and a few hours before dusk will be the best time to observe,” he said.

    To get the best visual experience, it is recommended to find a dark place, away from city lights, and give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Dark skies, minimal light pollution, and moonless skies are essential for observing meteor showers. To allow your eyes to adapt to the dark, the ideal is to avoid using your cell phone.

    Fireballs are significantly brighter than meteors and, as such, can be seen in urban environments, although darker skies will improve visibility. Shooting stars are easiest to see under dark skies, away from city lights, making rural areas, national parks or dark sky reserves ideal locations for viewing the Taurids.

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    Meteor showers are usually most visible between midnight and before dawn, especially when the constellation Taurus is higher in the sky. Several meteor showers occur each year and you don’t need special equipment to see them.

    When space fragments enter Earth’s atmosphere, air resistance heats them, causing them to glow and leave glowing trails, known as “shooting stars.” As the heat of the air causes it to glow around the meteors, they briefly leave a flaming tail behind them.

    The Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers can be observed until December. The Taurids are long-lasting meteor showers with less clearly defined peaks. The origin of the Taurid meteors from Comet Encke is reflected in the presence of small bodies of light crossing the sky, appearing as streaks of light that quickly disappear.

    Sources: AP, Associated Press, The Independent, ABC News, CBS News, The Washington Times, Phys.org, O Globo, ABC News Australia, El Confidencial, Secret Sydney

    This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq



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