Spot a streaking fireball in the sky tonight? If so, then you’re probably witnessing the Taurids, or an annual meteor shower that is associated with the comet Encke. It’s actually two separate showers, with a Southern and a Northern component. The former originates from Comet Encke, while the latter is from the asteroid 2004 TG10. They are both named after their radiant point in the constellation Taurus. Since this phenomenon happens in late October and early November, they’re also nicknamed the Halloween fireballs. Read more for a video and additional information.
#fireball #meteor at 12:56:56am 11/2/19 – camera facing North. Lake Forest, California #orangecounty pic.twitter.com/i83DztzihN
— Sarah Le (@SarahRLe) November 2, 2019
In optimal conditions, the Taurids appear at a rate of about 5 per hour, moving slowly across the sky at about 17 mi/s, or 65,000 mph. When a meteoroid larger than a pebble streaks across the sky, they may become bolides as bright as the moon and leave behind smoke trails. Jessica Gilstrap’s Nest camera just so happened to catch one of these meteors from their home in Fullerton and said that the light was so bright she thought someone was outside with a flashlight.
I just happened to glance out of my window and BAM! Meteor. Never seen one before live; that was beautiful. #LA
— Lamarr Wilson (@LamarrWilson) November 2, 2019
