The Taurid meteors originate from the periodic Comet 2P/Encke. Like the comet, the stream follows an unusually short period orbit ( about 3.3 years ) near the plane of the ecliptic. Taurus catch up to Earth roughly from behind, so they are unusually slow. The shower also is as strong in the evening as in the early morning hours.
Ordinarily the Taurus are a modest shower, offering only about 20 meteors per hour under ideal dark sky conditions, but this year the shower promises something more. This occasion offers the chance of occasionally really bright fireballs, moving slowly, the kind that make the public call the police.
A night or two ago, I saw one, and it was very slow, and left a streak that remained for several seconds, slowly dimming and going out as I watched in amazement. I for one will keep an eye peeled when I'm out at night.
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