Will You Catch the Taurid Meteors Above Illinois on Halloween?
It’s been an unusually spectacular year in the night sky in Illinois. The Northern Lights have been far more common than in many years with the Solar Maximum going on. But, the Northern Lights aren’t the only thing dancing in the heavens above us. Look up!
Those aren’t flaming flying pumpkins shooting across the night sky for Halloween, The Green Goblin is not tossing them across the horizon, although it may be fun to think of them that way.
This is the time of year for the “Taurid Swarm”. The Earth is passing through debris from the Comet "Encke" and Asteroid 2004/TG10 and when that dust hits our atmosphere it lights up and appears as shooting stars. This is an annual occurrence but NASA says this year may be more active than usual. NASA’s Meteroid Office points out that you shouldn’t be surprised if you see a fireball high in the night sky over the next several nights.
The best time for viewing is after midnight when the Taurus constellation is high in the sky. If it is cloudy Halloween night and you miss The Taurids please know that they will continue throughout November, then the Geminids arrive in Decmeber. There's a-lot happening celestially.
Best Halloween candy to have while peering up to see the “Taurid Swarm”??......Milky Way--(BAM!) Dad joke in full effect!
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Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz