Some Astronomers are predicting a meteor storm this year for the Taurids Meteor Shower of November 2008. The Taurids are universally acknowledged for producing somewhat slow moving fireballs. The Southern Taurids arrive at their peak activity on November 5th. I have already had a few observations from some of you telling me about gleaming fireballs. Most of the observations were made between 10:30 PM and 1:00 AM while looking near the constellation Taurus and Orion in the Northern Hemisphere. If you need help locating these constellations, leave your comments on the site and I will be glad to help you find them based on your location anywhere in the world.
Meteor Shower March 2010 |
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on Nov 4th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Hello All,
Please keep in mind that predicting meteor storms and meteor shower activity is very difficult.
I hope to see some activity. I will be outside gazing up into the night sky tonight November 4th between 11:00 PM and 1:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on November 5th.
Until then, Keep Your Head Up!
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 5th, 2008 at 7:11 pm
Where exactly should i be looking, like north etc…
on Nov 5th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Erica,
To answer your question best. I just need to know your location. If you’re in the USA, just give me the state. I am on the East Coast in Connecticut so I look East above the Constellation Orion that is where Taurus lies.
You can view this post for a general idea as well, please keep in mind that meteors can be seen anywhere in the sky:
Halloween Fireballs
Taurids Meteor Shower Peaks November 5th
Keep Your Head Up!
Meteor Mark
November Meteor Shower – Visit the Site to Enjoy Discussions About Meteors.
on Nov 6th, 2008 at 9:06 am
wow, Last night I was on break at work smoking outside at about 4:30 am. Looking towards east at about 45 degrees up, the skylit up blue green yellow I turned around quickly and noticed a smoke trail in the distance. first time ive ever seen something light up the sky like that , ive seen shooting stars but this had a smoke trail. I thought a missle or something was hitting toronto….
on Nov 10th, 2008 at 8:37 am
wow on 8th Nov. outside on patio at about 23.15 we saw an enormous fireball race across the sky, burning orange. so big it was like we could almost touch it. We did not know what it was until we saw your site. We live in Plymouth, Devon. (Colebrook). Is this a Fireball or are we mistaken????
on Nov 10th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Lesley and Colin,
If it was very bright like you described then yes it was a fireball, most meteors are a as bright as the brightest star in the sky.
Consider yourself lucky, try remembering the path then trace that path backward to a constellation. It may have been a Taurids Fireball, which would seem to come from the Constellation Taurus. Let me know if you can remember.
Thanks for the post,
Meteor Mark
on Nov 11th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Mark
So where do I look if I am in Phoenix? And which direction do I look (Besides up!) if I am trying to see the Leonids and what time of night is best? After midnight? I know I can see them anywhere in the sky but where is the constellation Leo located (besides in the sky?!) thanks
laurie
on Nov 11th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Laurie,
Thanks for your comment, but this is a post about the Taurids Meteor Shower so you won’t be able to find information about the Leonids.
Look at this post about the Leonids Meteor Shower of 2008
There are a few maps to help locate Leo in that section. You should be looking East at around 3 to 4 AM on November 17/18 for the maximum ZHR of the Leonids. This year the moon will be a real issue for viewing as it lies directly above Leo during the showers peak.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 11th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
My father (who lives right on the coast in Pascagoula, Mississippi) just saw the brightest falling star he had ever seen right at dusk. It even had a red glow. Lasted about 2 seconds. He was looking SE and said from what he could tell it went from NE to SW. Could this be from the Taurids Shower?
Thanks!
on Nov 11th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Lucinda,
Yes it could have been. If he could trace the path backward to the constellation Taurus (Did it Streak from the Pleidas, The Seven Sisters which is part of Taurus?) It sounds like from the description it was!
Look at this post, there is a star map of the Pleidas within it.
Keep your head up,
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Was out on the back deck last night, Nov. 11, at about
6:30 pm and saw a huge fireball looking shooting something. Could this have been a part of the Taurid
group. Don’t know much about any of this but the thing we saw, and there was two of us, was huge and shot all the way across the sky with a long trail. Would love to know anything we can about it.
Thanks.
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Sorry, just read the email about mine and we must have seen the same thing. How cool it was.
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
One more time…we are in Atlanta, Ga.
on Nov 12th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Laura,
Thank you for your comments and don’t be sorry. I am glad you found the information on the site.
If the time was the same and your area was generally close to each other, then yes you may have seen the same meteor. Was the other post from Atlanta?
Bookmark the site and join us later in the month.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 21st, 2008 at 11:40 am
Last night November 20, 2008 at about 5:30pm towards the sunset, I saw somewhat of a meteor? I question that because I’ve never seen one. I’ve seen plenty of shooting stars and that was not one. Funny thing is that the sun was setting and that is how bright it was. It happened on the same side of the sunset here in Long Beach/Pass Christian, MS.
It was like a bright greenish yellow color and very, very huge.
It lasted about 5 or 6 seconds.
If anyone else saw it, please comment. I’m curious and like to compare stories.
Thanks
on Nov 21st, 2008 at 8:34 pm
11/21/08 Dublin, New Hampshire
Driving home at around 8 pm tonight and just saw a huge meteor with trail — never seen anything so big and bright — across the eastern sky, perhaps lower than 45 degrees. Came on line to see what is up in the heavens. Clear night and I was driving, so I can’t say what constellations it might have been near … Husband whom I have to admit knows about astronomy says it could not have been a comet because it was too fast. What can you tell me?
Thanks,
Polly
Very special; luckily it was a dark and empty road so I could take in the beauty without wrecking!
Anything you can tell me would be appreciated.
on Nov 21st, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Polly,
Sounds awesome!
It was a fireball not a comet. Comets rarely enter our atmosphere. Look up the definition of “comet” and “fireball” in our meteorblog.com glossary located on the top of this page on the right.
Feel free to post anymore questions if you don’t find your answers there.
Meteor Mark
on Nov 21st, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Cynthia,
Thanks for your comment, hope someone saw it too and will post it here. Must have been cool to see it!
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 23rd, 2008 at 9:41 pm
I also saw a large fireball driving southeast on Route 89 in Contoocook NH at about 8 pm on November 21, 2008. It was large, bright white, and moving horizontally across the sky from north to south in the eastern sky. It was amazing – the brightest thing I have ever seen in the night sky! I was wondering if this was part of the same phenomenon as the fireball observed in the Canandian sky on November 20, and if there may have been anything that made it to the ground.
on Nov 23rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Bette,
The month of November has been pretty busy with four concurrent meteor showers happening! The Leonids, The Northern and Southern Taurids, and The Monocerotids are all active around the same date.
It is possible it was within the same stream of the Canadian Fireball and that meteor is yet to be determined what shower it was associated with. Sometimes they are sporadic meteors which means they have no association to any shower.
Please read comment #3 within the post Massive Fireball Falls Toward Earth for the answer to your question, “and if there may have been anything that made it to the ground.” Most meteors even large ones burn up 30 to 60 miles up in the atmosphere.
If you have any other questions, I will be happy to answer them for you if can’t find the information here.
You can also use the “search” feature in the upper right hand corner to browse around the site.
Next month may be a doozy for meteor viewing, bookmark the site and check back with me.
Thanks for your comment and keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark