The Southern Taurids meteor shower, known for its brilliant fireballs, will peak Monday night into early Tuesday, providing an impressive celestial show for dedicated sky-watchers. The Southern Taurids, one of two branches of the Taurid meteor showers, will be best seen after midnight early Tuesday, with sky conditions expected to favor clearer views of these spectacular meteors.
According to EarthSky, the Southern and Northern Taurids are not known for high numbers of meteors, producing only about five per hour each at their peaks. However, these showers often generate an extraordinary display of fireballs — meteors brighter than Venus — from September through November, reports the American Meteor Society.
“Patience is very good, especially with these showers. … Try to go outside when it’s clear and get a comfortable chair and something warm, maybe some hot cocoa, and just sort of plop yourself down and watch the sky,” advised Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of the Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.
Dr. Schmoll added that the Taurids offer a distinct advantage, producing larger and brighter meteors than other meteor showers. “If you do see one, it’s probably going to be a much bigger ‘wow’ factor,” she noted.
Ideal conditions for viewing
The Southern Taurids have been active since late September, and their peak comes with ideal conditions as the moon will be only 11% full, allowing viewers to spot even the fainter meteors. Almost every region worldwide, except Antarctica, will be able to view the Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers as long as the constellation Taurus, from which these meteors radiate, is visible.
What is a Fireball?
Fireballs are exceptionally bright meteors, often over 3 feet (1 meter) in length, according to NASA, which burn vividly as they enter Earth’s atmosphere. The Southern Taurids are composed of debris from Comet Encke, which orbits the sun every 3.3 years, the shortest orbit of any known comet. Each year, Earth encounters this debris stream, leading to meteors that streak across the night sky.
“If you have larger chunks of material, it will take longer to burn up, so it’ll be a brighter, longer streak — a fireball is one of these (relatively) big ones,” Schmoll explained. Occasionally, these larger rocks reach the ground as meteorites, though most particles burn out before landing.
The Taurid “Swarm” phenomenon and expectations for this year
Every three to seven years, the Taurid showers experience a spike in meteor rates, known as the Taurid “swarm.” Most recently, 2022 brought heightened activity, and scientists anticipate another swarm by 2025. Although normal rates are expected this year, the display may still offer memorable moments for those watching. “I think it’s really good for us to have those moments of focusing on the beauty of the universe … to have that connection to nature and outside and marvel at what’s out there,” Schmoll expressed. “There’s something so exciting about seeing that streak of light, that interaction of the Earth with the rest of the solar system.” The Southern Taurids will continue to grace the skies through December 8, according to the American Meteor Society.
Additional celestial events on the horizon
The Northern Taurids will peak about a week later, on November 11 and 12, potentially boosting meteor visibility when both showers overlap. For those who appreciate celestial events, here’s a look at the remaining meteor showers of 2024, with peak dates provided by the American Meteor Society:
- Leonids: November 16-17
- Geminids: December 12-13
- Ursids: December 21-22
Also, look out for the two remaining full moons of 2024. The beaver moon, a supermoon, will appear on November 15, followed by the cold moon on December 15, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.
