At the beginning of November, one of the most impressive space shows of the year will take place above our heads. The Taurid meteor shower will light up the night sky. It is known not only for its bright bolides, which often shine more brightly than Venus, but according to some theories, the mysterious Tunguska event of 1908 is also connected with it.
Every year from October to November, the Earth passes through a stream of tiny dust particles left behind by Comet 2P/Encke. It orbits the Sun once every 3.3 years and is among the oldest known comets in the Solar System. “Encke’s comet apparently went through several disintegrations in the past, so the swarm has a whole series of filaments, the most prominent being the South and North Taurids,” explains astronomer Michal Švanda.
The Tunguska Event and the Taurids
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The Czech group at the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic even recently discovered a new Taurid branch. “It can contain up to one-hundred-meter bodies with a potentially colliding trajectory relative to the Earth,” explains Švanda.
Other studies show that it is rather a fragile material, so direct damage to the earth’s surface should not occur in the event of a collision. “But even a pressure wave from an explosion in the atmosphere would have unpleasant consequences. After all, some scientists believe that the body that caused the so-called Tunguska disaster in 1908 originated from the Taurid swarm,” adds Švanda.
The most meteors should be seen on the night of November 4-5, 2025, when the shower reaches its peak. “Increased activity of the filament is predicted for this year, which could also contain larger bodies, so it is quite possible that we could also observe very bright meteors, so-called bolides, i.e. those that are brighter than the planet Venus,” Michal Švanda entices.
However, the observation will be hindered by the full moon of the supermoon, which falls precisely on November 5. “In addition, it will be located in a place in the sky where meteors seem to fly out, so its interference will be really significant. Weaker meteors will be lost in its light,” says Švanda. “But bright meteors should be observable,” he adds, adding that the Taurid maximum is very wide, so the chances of seeing it will be not only during the full moon night, but also on the nights before and after.
“Halloween Fireballs”
It is best to go outside the cities, with minimal light pollution, ideally to the countryside or to higher altitudes. No telescope or special equipment is needed. Just look high above the horizon towards the Taurus constellation at midnight and arm yourself with patience. This swarm is not one of the most numerous.
“The total Taurid activity is usually less than ten meteors per hour,” Švanda explains. But they tend to be larger than other meteors and can survive longer when passing through the Earth’s atmosphere. In addition, their speed is around 27 kilometers per second. This makes them more visually attractive as their path in the sky is lengthened.
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VIDEO: Falling meteor over Prague (November 20, 2020)
Falling meteor over Prague | Video: Facedbook / Department of Atmospheric Physics MFF UK
