Search! Taurid fireballs may be visible on Halloween night

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) – Candy lovers could get a “spooky” surprise in the sky on Halloween night in the form of the Taurid meteor shower.

The Taurids, which fly in “swarms,” are visible every year from September to November due to dust and debris left behind by Comet Encke, scientists say. NASA.

Based on the behavior of previous Taurid swarms, fireball activity may increase this week and the first two weeks of November. Fireballs are meteors that appear larger and brighter due to the presence of a higher concentration of debris.

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According to EarthSky.orgonly one percent of all Taurid meteors are fireballs. However, in years when the Earth passes through more debris, this percentage can rise to 7%.

The increase in activity is due to the overlap of the Northern and Southern Taurids, each of which produces about five meteors per hour.

The ideal time to view the Taurid meteor showers is under dark, moonless skies. San Diegans may have a small chance of seeing a fireball show. forecast for San Diego County on Thursday Looks like partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the low to mid 50s.

However, the chances of seeing the spectacle on Halloween night are greater than on the weekend, when overnight showers are expected.

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