Taurid Meteors Peak Nov. 4-5, With Fireballs Brighter Than Venus

The Southern Taurid meteor shower reaches a second peak overnight on Nov. 4-5, a window when unusually bright meteors called fireballs are more likely, according to Space.com and Live Science. The Northern Taurids follow with their own peak on Nov. 11-12, giving skywatchers two chances in one month.

Neither shower is a heavy downpour. Space.com said up to five meteors per hour could be visible at each peak. Live Science described the Southern Taurids as a minor shower that produces only a handful of shooting stars an hour, but one that can occasionally deliver standout fireballs.

The Taurid sky calendar

• Sept. 20 to Nov. 20: The Southern Taurids are active, according to Space.com.
• Oct. 14: The Southern Taurids hit their first peak, both outlets reported.
• Oct. 20 to Dec. 10: The Northern Taurids are active, per Space.com.
• Nov. 4-5: The second Southern Taurid peak. Live Science said the American Meteor Society expects what it calls the “fireball swarm component” to peak around these dates.
• Nov. 11-12: The Northern Taurids peak, under a dark, near moonless sky, according to Space.com.
• Nov. 17-18: The Leonids peak, Live Science reported, with around 15 shooting stars per hour.

Where the meteors come from

Both branches of the shower come from debris left by Comet 2P/Encke. Earth passes through the comet's dust streams each autumn. Live Science, citing NASA, said the comet measures 2.98 miles (4.8 kilometers) across and was discovered in 1786. It circles the sun every 3.3 years, one of the shortest known orbital periods of any comet in the solar system.

Live Science added that scientists theorize Encke is one of many fragments of a giant comet that broke apart 20,000 to 30,000 years ago.

Space.com said the tiny particles hit the atmosphere at 65,000 miles per hour (104,607 kilometers per hour). The brightest fireballs come from pebble-sized pieces that burn up as they enter. According to NASA, as cited by Live Science, a fireball is a meteor at least as bright as Venus. Space.com said Taurid fireballs can flare brighter than that planet.

What this means for anyone planning to watch

You do not need special equipment, and the outlets agree on a few practical points. Both say the meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus. Space.com described it as rising in the southeastern sky on November evenings. Live Science said it rises in the eastern sky at nightfall and climbs higher as the night goes on. Both point to the hours around midnight as the best time to look.

Unlike the Perseids or Geminids, the Southern Taurids have a broad peak, Live Science noted, so there is no need to be outside at an exact minute.

Space.com offered this advice:

• Find a dark location away from city lights.
• Avoid staring straight at the radiant. Meteors near Taurus strike Earth almost head-on and have the shortest trails, so a patch of sky a little distance away shows longer streaks.
• Skip telescopes and binoculars, which narrow the field of view. Live Science likewise said the naked eye is best for meteor showers.
• Dress warmly and allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark.

With rates of up to five meteors per hour, patience matters more than gear. A fireball is a matter of chance, so some watchers may see none during a given session.

What comes next

After the Northern Taurids on Nov. 11-12, the Leonids peak on Nov. 17-18. Live Science said the Geminids follow on Dec. 13-14, when they can deliver up to 120 shooting stars per hour close to the peak.

Around Prague, based on reporting by Space.com, Live Science