"The Taurid meteor shower blooms when Earth flies through debris left behind by Comet 2P/Encke. Encke has among the shortest orbital periods of all comets identified by scientists to date, completing one loop around the sun every 3.3 years. As the object zips around the warmest part of that loop near the sun, its ice turns to gas, which causes the comet to shed dust and other material."
"I like to think of it sort of like the character Pigpen [from Peanuts]he's always got dust and stuff following him, says Mark Boslough, a physicist at the University of New Mexico. It's left a big trail, he says of Comet Encke. And twice every year Earth's orbit carries us through that trail: every June the daylit side of our planet flies into what's dubbed the Beta Taurids, and every October and November the night side flies into the Southern and Northern Taurids."
"The Taurids tend to be less dazzling overall than other meteor showers but are notable predominantly for their more numerous fireballs. If you want to try catching a Taurid, go to a dark place and get comfyveteran skywatchers recommend staying out at least 30 minutes to allow your eyes to adjust to the dark and sitting or lying down so you don't have to crane your neck."
The Taurid meteor shower originates from debris left by Comet 2P/Encke, which completes an orbit around the sun every 3.3 years. Solar heating causes Encke to shed dust and material, creating a broad trail that Earth crosses twice each year. The June crossing produces the daylit Beta Taurids, while the October–November crossings produce the Southern and Northern Taurids, noted for producing more fireballs than typical showers. The Southern Taurids peak in early November and can be made harder to observe when the full moon is present. Observers are advised to go to dark sites and allow eyes to adapt for best viewing.
Read at www.scientificamerican.com
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