Each November, the Earth passes through the debris of old comets, and this week two streams of that ancient dust, the Southern and Northern Taurids, drift through our skies together. The Southern stream reaches its height in the small hours of Wednesday, November 5, just as the Super Beaver Moon climbs bright above the horizon, so a thing that would otherwise be a quiet gift of the cosmos must compete with a larger light. Patient watchers will find the modest rhythm of about five meteors an hour, and perhaps as many as ten when the streams overlap, asking little more than a dark place and a wi
Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks Nov. 5 Alongside Supermoon: How and When to Watch
Thousands of meteors per minute appeared to fall like rain
Mark
So the Taurids peak on Nov. 5. Why is everyone talking about the moon?
Mimi
Because the Super Beaver Moon rises that same day and is brighter than normal. Moonlight washes out fainter meteors.
Mark
How many meteors are we talking about?
Mimi
About five an hour from the two streams together, maybe up to 10 if they overlap, according to EarthSky.
Luke
That 10 is conditional, and it comes from one source. It's a ceiling under good overlap, not a forecast for Wednesday night.
Mark
But the Southern Taurids are known for fireballs, right?
Mimi
Yes, the American Meteor Society says so. Fireballs are bright enough that they might cut through some of the moonlight.
Luke
Might is the key word. The reporting says the Southern Taurids are known for fireballs. It doesn't say any will be visible this year, or that they'd beat the moon.
Mark
So is the Northern Taurids' timing the better bet?
Mimi
Possibly. The moon will be about 53% full on Nov. 11, so the sky should be darker.
Luke
Better visibility is a reasonable expectation, not a promise. The article doesn't give a Northern Taurid peak date or rate.
Mark
And the Leonids on Nov. 17?
Mimi
Up to 15 an hour, with a history of storms every 33 years or so. In 1966, thousands of meteors per minute fell.
O Pulso
- The Southern Taurids peak in the early hours of November 5, the same night the bright supermoon rises and threatens to drown out the faint streaks of light.
- Skywatchers are being pulled between two timings, with the Southern shower's fireballs at the mercy of a glaring moon.
- Attention is shifting to the Northern Taurids, which arrive days later when the moon wanes to about 53 percent and the sky grows noticeably darker.
- Advice is simple and direct: escape city lights, lie flat after midnight, and give eyes half an hour to adjust before the Leonids surge on November 17.
Each November, the Earth passes through the debris of old comets, and this week two streams of that ancient dust, the Southern and Northern Taurids, drift through our skies together. The Southern stream reaches its height in the small hours of Wednesday, November 5, just as the Super Beaver Moon climbs bright above the horizon, so a thing that would otherwise be a quiet gift of the cosmos must compete with a larger light. Patient watchers will find the modest rhythm of about five meteors an hour, and perhaps as many as ten when the streams overlap, asking little more than a dark place and a willingness to wait.
The best window for the Southern Taurids falls in the dark hours after midnight on Wednesday, November 5, and it is the same night the Super Beaver Moon rises brighter than usual, competing for attention with the show.
The Taurids are really two streams, Southern and Northern, forming one shower. According to EarthSky, they usually produce about five meteors an hour, and up to ten if the streams overlap. The Southern Taurids are known for fireballs, the especially bright meteors the American Meteor Society describes, but the moon's glare often makes such showers harder to see.
The Northern Taurids may be the better bet. They arrive days after the supermoon, when the moon is about 53 percent full on November 11 and the sky is darker.
For viewing, the advice is simple: find a spot far from city lights, lie flat on your back after midnight, and let your eyes adjust for at least 30 minutes. NASA calls the midnight-to-2 a.m. stretch the sweet spot. Next comes the Leonids, peaking November 17 with up to 15 meteors an hour, and known for bright, colorful streaks and for storms roughly every 33 years, including the 1966 storm that filled the sky like rain.
The best hours for watching the Southern Taurids this week fall in the dark stretch after midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 5. That is also when the Super Beaver Moon, November's supermoon, rises brighter than usual and competes with the show.
The Taurids are two streams, the Southern and the Northern, and together they make up one meteor shower. According to EarthSky, the pair typically produce about five meteors per hour. If the two streams overlap, the rate could reach as many as 10. The Southern Taurids are usually active through the fall, and this year they peak in the early hours of Nov. 5.
They have a reputation worth noting. The American Meteor Society says the Southern Taurids are known for fireballs, the especially bright meteors that stand out against the night sky. The moon, though, may get in the way. Its brightness often makes meteor showers harder to catch, and the Super Beaver Moon rises the same day the Southern Taurids peak.
The Northern Taurids may offer a better chance. They arrive days after the supermoon, and the American Meteor Society says the moon will be about 53% full on Nov. 11, so the sky should be darker than it is at the Nov. 5 peak.
The showers are usually named for a star or constellation near where they appear in the sky. What people see as shooting stars is a steady process. NASA says about 48.5 tons of meteoritic material fall on Earth each day. Most of it vaporizes in the atmosphere on the way down and leaves a bright trail. Several meteors can be seen on any given night, NASA says, but the numbers climb sharply during a shower.
The advice for watching is simple. Find a spot away from city lights and go outside after midnight. Lie flat on your back and look up. Give your eyes at least 30 minutes to adjust to the dark. NASA says pre-dawn hours are best for viewing, with the sweet spot between midnight and 2 a.m.
The next major shower is the Leonids, which peak on Nov. 17. They are known for bright, colorful streaks, and viewers can expect up to 15 meteors per hour. That count is modest, but NASA notes the Leonids have historically produced powerful storms about every 33 years. During the 1966 storm, thousands of meteors per minute appeared to fall like rain across the night sky.
Citações Notáveis
The best viewing is in the pre-dawn hours, with a sweet spot between midnight and 2 a.m.— NASA (paraphrased)
The Southern Taurids are known to produce fireballs.— American Meteor Society (paraphrased)
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