#impact-risk

#impact-risk

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.