Taurid fireballs streak the skies the next two nights

Some of the more spectacular fireballs caused by meteoroids entering Earth's atmosphere will be sporadically lighting up the skies for the next few nights.

The annual Taurid meteor showers—caused by the Earth passing through debris cast off by the comet Encke—typically are rich in what sky watchers call fireballs, meteor sightings much larger and brighter than normal and usually of a longer duration. Sometimes, various colours are visible.

The Taurids can actually be seen for the better part of a month, but they are generally considered to "peak" during two periods this year, tonight (November 4, what are referred to as the South Taurids) and tomorrow (November 5), then again a week later (for what are called the North Taurids). You don't have to watch the north or south skies for either shower; they streak all over the sky map.

Unlike some other famous meteor showers—such as the Perseids or the Leonids, which can sometimes produce hundreds of meteors per hour—the Taurids tend to reveal only five to seven meteors per hour at peak times, but the incidence of fireballs is generally much higher than with most other showers.

With the moon in a waxing crescent phase and setting early, light interference won't be the problem it can sometimes be, and best viewing is thought to start between midnight and 1 a.m. and last until dawn.

If the skies turn cloudy, just give it a couple of days until the North Taurids begin.