This Halloween, skywatchers may get a treat rather than a trick.
Almost every month we get a major meteor shower. Right now we’re in the middle of the Northern Taurids. While not normally spectacular, every so often the shower produces fireballs — bright meteors whose brightness can rival the moon. And this could be a year of fireballs.
From 2005 to 2008, we encountered heightened activity, with 2005 being a “Taurid swarm” year with an increase in fireballs.
Earth is passing through the debris left over from Comet Encke, which can enter our atmosphere at a mind-blowing 105,000 km/h. During Taurid swarm years, Earth plows into pebble-sized debris. As they burn up in the atmosphere, they create beautiful streaks of light.
If 2015 is indeed a swarm year, you can expect an increase in bright meteors in from now until the middle of November.
There will be a waning gibbous moon (meaning that it was full and is now heading toward a new moon) in the sky, but unlike other meteor showers, this isn’t much of a problem. As mentioned, these fireballs can be as bright as the moon, so they’re easy to see.
Also, unlike with other meteor showers, the chance of seeing fireballs is the same from the evening into the early hours of the morning, rather than after midnight.
If you have clear skies, keep an eye out. Have patience: Don’t expect to see many Taurids as there are usually just five an hour in dark sky locations, but keep your fingers crossed that predictions of a swarm year are correct. When you see the fireball, it will be worth the wait.
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