Balkans to Enjoy Best Views of Taurid Meteor Shower Peak
The Balkan Peninsula will have the best viewing conditions for the peak of the Taurid meteor shower, which is notorious for producing fireballs, Thursday night.
The Taurid meteor shower has been underway since late October but is currently in its gradual peak through Nov. 12, stated AccuWeather Meteorologist Dave Samuhel.
"This year is a particularly good year for viewing the Taurids as the peak of the meteor shower coincides with the new moon," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Lada.
“In a given year, this shower typically produces just five to 10 meteors per hour," said Samuhel, "but there are notable swarm years, when this shower really impresses, and 2015 is one of those years."
"Fireballs are common with the Taurids,” added Samuhel, “and there are already reports of unusually bright meteors (fireballs) streaming in from all over the world in the past week.”
The Taurid meteor shower results when Earth passes through the debris stream left by Comet Encke. Samuhel states that since this debris is larger than typical meteor particles, the stage is set for fireballs to streak through the sky.
“Fireballs are just bright meteors, as bright or brighter than the planet Venus,” he said.
Thanks to a large dome of high pressure, skygazers across the Balkans hoping to catch a glimpse of the cosmic fireballs will have no issues due to the weather Thursday night.
That is especially true across the southern Balkans, where clear skies and dry weather will prevail. This includes in Athens, Sofia and Sarajevo.
Bucharest will start the night mostly clear, but the development of low clouds and fog will interfere with the show later at night.
Clouds will also occasionally stream overhead from Rome to Barcelona, interrupting those hoping to catch a glimpse of the cosmic fireballs. A mostly clear sky will promote good viewing conditions around Madrid.
Clouds from the Storm Abigail will lead to poor viewing conditions from Portugal to the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Another system will be responsible for clouds and rain from the Baltic States to eastern Ukraine.
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