Stargazers are in for a celestial treat as two sister meteor showers, the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids, are currently visible in the night skies. The Southern Taurids are expected to reach their peak overnight from Monday into Tuesday, November 4/5, while the Northern Taurids are projected to peak on November 12. Both meteor showers are known for producing intensely bright fireballs that can illuminate the sky.
According to ABC News Australia, the Taurid meteor shower can be seen in the night sky across Australia on Monday night and into the early hours of Tuesday. These meteor showers are long-lasting, observable until December, with less clearly defined peaks. This year's conditions for viewing the Taurid meteor shower are anticipated to be ideal with minimal light interference, as the Southern Taurids will peak on an evening with only a slim crescent moon that is just 11% full.
The Taurid meteor shower originates from the debris left by Comet Encke as it transits through the orbit of the Sun. As Comet Encke passes through our solar system, fragments of it enter Earth's atmosphere at incredibly fast speeds and create fireballs. During this time, observers will be able to see dust from Comet Encke suspended in the night sky for a few moments, fleetingly illuminating it.
Most meteor showers originate from the debris of comets, and the Southern and Northern Taurids share the same parent source from comet 2P/Encke. When space fragments enter the Earth's atmosphere, air resistance heats them, causing them to glow and leave incandescent trails, known as "shooting stars." The glowing pockets of air around these fast-moving space rocks, ranging from the size of a dust particle to a boulder, may be visible in the night sky.
Taurid meteors are typically slow-moving but can be very bright, often appearing as very bright fireballs known for their extreme brightness and sometimes colorful displays. The fireballs produced by the Taurid showers tend to be brighter and longer-lasting than those from other meteor showers. Sally Brummel, planetarium manager at the University of Minnesota's Bell Museum, said, "What's notable is that they're likely to produce brighter and longer-lasting meteors than some other showers, even if there aren't as many at a time," according to the Associated Press.
Both the Southern and Northern Taurids meteor showers tend to produce around five slow-moving meteors per hour under clear conditions and dark skies. The Southern Taurids' peak intensity is estimated at 6.3 to 6.9 meteors per hour, and the Northern Taurids at 4.2 to 4.8 meteors per hour.
Jonti Horner from the University of Southern Queensland commented on the Taurids, stating, "For the general public, I wouldn't recommend setting an alarm to get up and observe it," as reported by ABC News Australia. He added, "By all means, if you're up, then watch it, but it may be a little underwhelming." However, he noted that the Taurids are good for photographers. "It is good for photographers too, because of the relatively slow and brighter meteors," said Jonti Horner. The Taurids create longer-lasting meteors than other showers, making them ideal for capturing on camera.
The best time to view the Taurids meteor shower is usually after midnight, particularly between 1 AM and 2 AM, when the constellation Taurus is higher in the sky and the night sky is darkest. Jonti Horner advised, "The shower will be at its peak around 1 AM to 2 AM, but you will see some meteors from around 9 or 10 PM." He also suggested being prepared for a long night if you plan to stay up for it. "Be prepared for a long night if you are staying up for it. I'd say from 11 PM to the hours before dusk will be best for viewing," he said.
To get the best viewing experience, it's recommended to find a dark location away from city lights and give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. A dark sky, minimal light pollution, and a moonless sky are key for observing meteor showers. To allow your eyes to adjust to the dark, it is ideal to avoid using cell phones.
Fireballs are significantly brighter than meteors, and because of that, they can be seen in urban environments, although darker skies will enhance visibility. It's easier to see shooting stars under dark skies, away from city lights, making rural areas, national parks, or dark sky reserves ideal locations for viewing the Taurids.
Meteor showers are usually most visible between midnight and the predawn hours, particularly when the constellation Taurus is higher in the sky. Multiple meteor showers occur annually, and you don't need special equipment to see them.
When space fragments enter the Earth's atmosphere, air resistance heats them, causing them to glow and leave incandescent trails, known as "shooting stars." As the heat from the air causes it to glow around the meteors, they briefly leave a fiery tail behind them.
Both the Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers can be observed until December. The Taurids are long-lasting meteor showers with less clearly defined peaks. The Taurid meteors' origin from Comet Encke results in small bodies of light crossing the sky, appearing as bright streaks that quickly fade away.
Sources: AP, Associated Press, The Independent, ABC News, CBS News, The Washington Times, Phys.org, O Globo, ABC News Australia, El Confidencial, Secret Sydney
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq