Taurids

The Taurids are a meteor shower that occurs annually in the months of October and November. The shower is associated with Comet Encke, a short-period comet that orbits the Sun every 3.3 years. The Taurids are notable for producing fireballs, which are unusually bright meteors that can be seen in daylight. The shower is also unique in that it is actually composed of two separate streams of debris: the South Taurids and the North Taurids. These streams are thought to have separated from Comet Encke millions of years ago due to gravitational interactions with Jupiter.

The Earth passes through these debris trails each year, causing meteors to streak across the sky as they burn up in our atmosphere. The Taurids are not known for a high rate of meteors per hour, often producing only a handful of visible shooting stars. However, their association with fireballs makes them a point of interest for astronomers and meteor enthusiasts. The peak of the Taurid meteor shower typically occurs around November 12th, though the exact date can vary slightly from year to year. Due to the shower's tendency to produce brighter meteors, even a less active shower can offer spectacular sights.