Skygazers in the UAE will have the chance to witness a celestial event on November 6 and 13, as the Taurids meteor shower, also known as the “Halloween fireball,” reaches its peak. This meteor shower is unique because it consists of two streams, the North and South Taurids, originating from different parts of the comet’s tail.
The Taurids are known for producing fireballs, making them particularly bright and striking. They travel at a slower speed compared to other meteor showers, moving across the sky at approximately 17 miles per second. The Taurid meteor shower is active from late September to early December, with the best viewing experience during its peak activity in mid-November.
The Taurids are a product of debris from Comet 2P/Encke, which orbits the sun every 3.3 years. These meteor showers can be observed from nearly any location on Earth, except for the South Pole. The Taurid meteor shower appears to originate from the Taurus constellation.
The South Taurids will reach their peak on November 6, 2023, at 4:47 a.m., while the North Taurids will peak on November 13, 2023, at 4:21 a.m. Although Comet 2P/Encke is too faint to be seen with the naked eye, it can be observed with a telescope having an aperture of 14 inches (350mm) or more.
