The Southern Taurids Meteor Shower peaks in the morning of November 5th and the Northern Taurids Meteor Shower peaks in the early morning hours of November 12th. The Southern and Northern Taurids meteoroid streams are part the dust particles associated with the Comet 2P/Encke. These meteors will be seen streaking across the sky emanating from the constellation Taurus. The Taurids are not a major meteor shower, but they should turn out 5 to 12 meteors per hour during their peak or about 1 or 2 meteors every 10 minutes. This is nothing compared to what is in store for meteor gazers later in the month when the Leonids come into view. There are some rumors floating around that the Leonids Meteor Shower, which starts November 10th, could produce about ten times the amount of meteors that will be seen during these meteor showers.
The Taurids are known for being easy to plot and track because they move across the sky relatively slower than other meteors do. Their brightness and comparative slowness makes them easier to photograph as well. When viewing a Taurids meteor one should trace their backward path to the constellation Taurus, in other words the meteors would seemingly appear to have originated from this constellation. Taurids are also known as Halloween Fireballs because they tend to produce fireballs and bolides (see the meteor glossary on this site for more details about fireballs and bolides). Meteor gazers will notice activity from the Taurids in the first two weeks of November and then will be treated by a monstrous display from the Leonids. Unfortunately, this year the Moon will be almost full for most of the Taurids but the constellation Taurus does appear high in the sky for Northern Hemisphere viewers which usually means more visible meteors, but don’t expect much more. This is a great time to familiarize oneself with the night sky and find the constellation Leo, as it will be the focal point for the next meteor shower the Leonids, which occurs later this month.
As always feel free to comment, bookmark the site, join the mailing list and keep your head up because the Leonids are going to dazzle you!
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Hi Meteor Mark,
I was wondering about the Leoid Meteor Shower occurring later this month… approximately when should that be happening. I would love to experience a viewing of a meteor shower but am unsure of where and when is best. By the way I live in Albany and will try to find an empty field to watch. Should we have some sort of telescope or will they be very apparent to the naked eye? Hope you can be some help.
Thanks, Konstellation Kerrie
on Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Kerrie,
The quick answer is November 17th and you should definitely not use a telescope. Bookmark the site I will be doing a Top 10 List for the Leonids, in just a few days. You will learn all you need to know right here. In the meantime check the Glossary and the Meteor Shower Viewing page on my site.
Keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 5th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
do keep us posted if indeed the leonids would produce around 500 per hour. thanks
on Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:11 pm
Andrew,
Let’s keep our expectations realistic, how about 120 per hour? There is always a chance for more activity.
Thanks for being optimistic and keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Can you see some tonight the weather channel said in Missouri at Mid – Night look up and we can see good shooting stars on The 5th of November. Is that right
on Nov 5th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
Jeff,
Coincidentally, you have commented in a blog post that states that the Taurids Meteor Shower is peaking. Just keep in mind that meteor showers are usually best seen in the morning hours before dawn, not in the evening before midnight. Please visit the meteor shower viewing page on this site.
Keep your head up!
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 5:21 am
Hey all saw a great Taurid this morning 11/7 in minnesota at 4am, it was a great fireball that split in two, very slow and very cool, hope you all keep watching the night sky’s this month. November is the best.
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Just out walking my dogs in Sheffield UK and saw what I guess was a meteor shower. About 6 yellow as opposed to white lights, moving quite slowly across the sky, then fading out and disappearing. Is this a meteor shower?
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Christina,
I don’t know what you saw. Meteors usually streak pretty quickly. I doubt this was a meteor shower. You might want to look at the definition of meteor shower in the glossary here on this site. Sounds like you saw a few airplanes.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Did anyone see the Meteor or Fireball as the news is calling it at 5:09 PM shoot over the western skys?
I was driving on Watsonville Rd in Gilroy and thought I was seeing a shooting star at sunset, cool. Then it got much bigger and brighter as it entered the earths atmoshere. Is it common for a meteor to leave a contrail for an hour or more? Not a small one but something as big a jet plane would leave in the sky. How big do you think this was?
Thank you, Pamela in Gilroy
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Pamela,
We’ve had some comments about this on the site I think?
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
One more comment about the Nov 7th 2009 meteor, I googled “fireball over San Francisco Bay area” and a very interesting article came up referring to a Fireball in 1963….on NOV 7th! and get this at 6:09 pm..I think this is strange coincidence. Or maybe common?
Looking forward to the Leonids.
on Nov 7th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Pamela,
Your excitement is awesome! I also get excited when I see fireballs. It is not common for a fireball to leave a “smoke trail” behind it that lasts that long. Please have a look at the definition of “persistent train” in the glossary here on the site, the word “contrail” is used for the trail behind an airplane not usually for a meteor. That’s pretty cool about the 1963 event. I would think that the fireball may have been the size of a basketball to size of a car. Remember these meteoroids enter our atmosphere at sometimes close to 100,000 mph so a lot of heat and light is created. The trail behind it is super heated plasma, neato stuff, haha! I sound like I’m describing a super hero cartoon, but I’m sure it was magnificent. Thanks for sharing the story.
You may want to use the search feature on this site and search for colors, fireball, and bolide. Keep your head up the Leonids will be coming soon and I will be writing an article next Monday.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 8th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Oh cool info. I will check more on the site. I am new to it, so just getting started.
We live in a rural area of Gilroy and have great views from our property, nice and dark. We’re looking forward to seeing the Leonids show! I posted a photo of the “smoke trail” on KCBS.com it lasted for over one hour until it got too dark to see.
Happy gazing!
Pamela
on Nov 8th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Aloha, I am wondering when the best time will be to see the Taurids here in Laupahoehoe, Hawai`i. We have the most amazing, clear skies and it hasn’t been raining much at night so we should be able to get a good show. I’m always glad to stay up late or get up early to enjoy what the skies bring us here.
on Nov 8th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
I live in Cafornia (Los Angeles area), what date/times do you think I’ll be able to see the meteor shower? I wanted to watch it for my birthday : )..
on Nov 8th, 2009 at 11:27 pm
Michelle,
Not sure which meteor shower you’re referencing, but the date and times are on the site. You can also check out the Meteor Shower Viewing page and the Meteor Glossary for more general information. You will most likely be able to see all of November’s meteor showers provided the weather is favorable.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 8th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Judi,
The next best date for the Northern Taurids is November 12th – please review the article – Taurids Meteor Shower Peaking While Leonids are Coming Soon. You can also visit the Meteor Shower Viewing page and the Meteor Glossary locate in the upper right hand corner of the site, meteor showers are commonly best seen in the pre dawn hours regardless of your time zone, it can get confusing when time zones are different, for example: the time right now in New York is 11:39 PM Sunday November 8th, but it is Monday 4:41 AM in London. There is some information included in those pages for determining the best time to view in your area. To the best of my knowledge it would be November 12th in the morning for you.
Keep your head up and clear skies to you.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 8th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Pamela,
Welcome to the meteor gazing extravaganza! The Leonids will be peaking November 17th, I’m looking forward to that meteor shower too. Thanks for the comment.
Keep your head up.
- Meteor Mark
on Nov 9th, 2009 at 3:53 am
Pamela,
I was in the Sand City Shopping Center (near Monterey, CA) parking lot that day at around that time. I also saw a meteor/fireball fly through the air. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but now I know.
Thank you.
-Max
on Nov 9th, 2009 at 8:13 am
On November 7th, around 5PM in San Francisco, I was staying at the Hotel Huntington. I just decided to look out the window and all of a sudden i’m saying to my wife, “What the hell is that????” I saw blueish-green ball with seemingly a fire-tail shoot across the sky downward. It went behind a mountain and left a smoke trail like a skywriter does except it was zigzaggy, not straight. That evening, my wife heard on the news that other people saw this too and that it was probably a meteor.
on Nov 11th, 2009 at 12:25 am
I observed a spectacular fireball display this evening in Boulder, CO. Saw five fireballs coming down in a cluster with tails. It looked similar to a fireworks shot. As the initial group faded a sixth lone fireball appeared lower down from the original group. They appeared in the east-northeast right over Taurus as it was rising. Very beautiful indeed.
on Nov 11th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Its great reading all the comments, I have seen a few more Taurids over the last few days (Nightshifts you know!). But I am looking forward to the leonids that peak on the 17th of this month. Word is that they could be pretty heavy this year and I have even heard Meteor Storm references, thats a lot of meteors per hour… could be really cool, set up in a corn field, lie back and watch the show…great way to spend an evening!!!!!take care all…..
on Nov 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
will tonight friday the 13th will we have any in central IL plzzz tell me
on Nov 14th, 2009 at 8:16 am
T.J.
Maybe. Which shower are you talking about?
- Meteor Mark