Watch Out! Taurid Meteor Shower To Spit Spectacular Fireballs

The Taurids meteor shower is firing this week, and we can expect fireballs that shine impressively bright for cosmic entertainment.

According to NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke, Taurids might not have a lot of shooting stars to offer, but they are famous for their bright, long-lasting showers.

"In general, the Taurids are very bright," he said in an interview with Space.com. "So there may be only five per hour, but they are bright. That's their claim to fame."

Business Insider said that it is less than half the speed of the rapid Perseid meteors, which move at about 133,000 mph.

Fireball is another term that describes a meteor that is usually brighter than the planet Venus, which is the brightest planet in our solar system.

The Taurids are debris from the comet Encke, which is named after German astronomer Johan Franz Encke, who discovered it in 1786.

Taurid meteors have been in the Horizon since September, but increased fireball activity is seen by the end of October and start on November.

As explained by NASA, the best time to get the best view of it is "when Taurus is high in the sky, and when the sky is dark and clear, with no moonlight to mask the fainter meteors."

The Taurids are broken into two streams --- the North Taurids and South Taurids. As per Bustle, for those in the Northern hemisphere, your peak viewing time will be Nov. 4 and Nov. 5; whereas those in the Southern Hemisphere can enjoy the view of the bright spectacular fireballs on Nov. 11 and Nov. 12

It is recommended to avoid pollution lights and artificial lights to get the best view of the bright showers. This means getting to high altitude places, under a clear sky. Last year, people witnessed the peak in the Taurids' 7-year cycle of brightness.