Oh You Taurid Fireball!

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/03nov_taurids.htm


Some awesome sights to behold in the sky this Fall. Taurid fireballs have been reported in countries around the globe this month. The Full Moon this week was in the sign of Taurus.

Fireball Sightings 11.03.2005

Earth is orbiting through a swarm of space debris that may be producing an unusual number of nighttime fireballs.

[...] he explains, Earth passes through a river of space dust associated with Comet Encke. Tiny grains hit our atmosphere at 65,000 mph. At that speed, even a tiny smidgen of dust makes a vivid streak of light--a meteor--when it disintegrates. Because these meteors shoot out of the constellation Taurus, they're called Taurids.