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Look up! Taurid meteor shower could light up your night

The longer-lasting, brighter-burning fireballs are hitting their peak.

Eric Mack Contributing Editor
Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries. Eric helps consumers by demystifying solar, battery, renewable energy, energy choice concepts, and also reviews solar installers. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. His encrypted email for tips is ericcmack@protonmail.com.
Expertise Solar, solar storage, space, science, climate change, deregulated energy, DIY solar panels, DIY off-grid life projects. CNET's "Living off the Grid" series. https://www.cnet.com/feature/home/energy-and-utilities/living-off-the-grid/ Credentials
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Eric Mack
2 min read

There's been a light show in night skies recently and it's heating up right now as the annual Taurid meteor shower reaches its peak. 

The Taurids aren't especially known for producing an abundance of fleeting "shooting stars" like August's Perseids, but they do have a reputation for generating a few especially bright, long-lasting and spectacular fireballs like this one seen over Arkansas on Nov. 2:

The Taurids occur between October and December every year when the Earth passes through debris clouds left by Comet Encke and the asteroid 2004 TG10. There are actually two branches of the meteor shower, the northern and southern Taurids, which have rather vague and broadly defined peaks of activity. But indications are that Monday night and the rest of this week should be a great opportunity to look for more fireballs from the southern branch while the northern Taurids build toward a peak on Nov. 10 to 11, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS).

The cloud of debris producing these meteor showers is larger and more dispersed than others our planet passes through, which is why the Taurids are spread out over several weeks. Also, they're composed of larger bits of space rock -- heavier pebbles compared to smaller grains. They also move slower than in other meteor showers, which is what gives us the longer-lasting, brighter-burning fireballs.

2018 Perseid meteor shower sizzles across the sky

See all photos

To catch a Taurid fireball, the best strategy is really just to spend as much time under the clear night sky as you can and to be alert as possible. But if you're more dedicated and feeling lucky, you could find yourself a dark location away from city lights with a full, clear view of the night sky. From there just lay back, look up and relax. The AMS says it might be possible to see as many as five Taurid meteors per hour this week. 

And, of course, if you happen to catch any particularly awesome fireballs on video, please share the footage with me on Twitter @EricCMack.

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