Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks This Week: Watch the Skies

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Taurid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak this week, providing stargazers with a chance to catch a spectacular sight. The best days to view the Taurids are from November 5 to November 12, when conditions will be mostly favorable for viewing.

The Taurids are unique because they have an extended visibility period, starting from mid-October and continuing through mid-November. While the meteor shower is usually not the most prolific, observers can expect to see bright, slow-moving meteors, sometimes referred to as fireballs, especially in years like 2025 when they are predicted to produce particularly vibrant displays.

Skywatchers on November 12 can anticipate about four hours of dark, moonless skies before moonrise occurs just after midnight. During this window, up to 15 meteors may be visible each hour. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus, which is typically overhead around 1:30 a.m.

“This particular shower is notable for its larger and brighter meteors, leading to the potential for fireballs,” said Robert Lunsford, fireball report coordinator for the American Meteorological Society. He emphasized that the debris responsible for the Taurids comes from Comet 2P/Encke, which has one of the shortest orbits of any known comet.

Despite the full moon disrupting primary visibility on November 5, as it brightens the night sky, conditions improve later in the week as the moon wanes. Observers are encouraged to find dark, clear skies away from city lights for the best chance of spotting meteors.

In addition to the Taurids, the Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak on November 18. This annual event is characterized by fast-moving meteors and will likely benefit from a darker sky as the moon approaches its new phase.

With so much excitement in the sky, both meteor showers present ideal opportunities for astronomy enthusiasts to marvel at the wonders of our universe.