How to catch a glimpse of a fireball from the first phase of the Taurid meteor shower

A meteor shower known for its spectacular fireballs is set to reach its peak Monday night into early Tuesday, offering sky-gazers a chance to witness a mesmerizing celestial show.

The Southern Taurids, the initial phase of the Taurid meteor showers, will be most visible after midnight on Tuesday. These showers tend to focus on quality rather than quantity, with each producing about five meteors per hour at their peak, according to EarthSky.

However, this dynamic duo often sees an increase in fireball activity—meteors brighter than the planet Venus—throughout September to November, as reported by the American Meteor Society.

"Patience is key with these showers... Find a cozy spot outside on a clear night with a comfortable chair and a warm drink, perhaps some hot cocoa, and simply relax as you watch the sky," advised Dr. Shannon Schmoll, director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University.

One of the perks of the Taurid meteor showers is that they tend to produce larger, brighter meteors compared to other showers. If you catch one, it’s likely to leave you with a bigger 'wow' moment," she explained.

The Southern Taurids have been active since late September. During the peak night, the moon will be only about 11% full, according to the American Meteor Society, offering perfect conditions for spotting even the faintest meteors.

Both the Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers will be visible almost everywhere around the world, except in Antarctica, as long as the constellation Taurus is visible in the sky. This constellation serves as the radiant point from which the meteors appear to originate, according to Dr. Schmoll.

What exactly is a fireball?

Fireballs are usually caused by meteors that are at least 3 feet (1 meter) long, according to NASA, which makes them much brighter as they burn up in Earth's atmosphere.

The Southern Taurids are composed of debris from Comet Encke, which orbits the Sun every 3.3 years—making it the shortest orbital period of any known comet in the solar system. This comet leaves behind a wide trail of debris that Earth passes through each year. As the particles enter Earth's atmosphere, they create the shooting stars we see.

"Larger pieces of material take longer to burn up, resulting in a brighter, longer streak in the sky—these are the fireballs, the bigger meteors," Schmoll explained. Occasionally, these larger rocks survive the descent and land on Earth as meteorites, but most of the particles are small and burn out quickly, she added.

Occasionally, the Taurid showers experience a surge in meteor activity, referred to as a Taurid 'swarm,' such as the increase in 2022. This heightened meteor rate typically occurs every three to seven years, according to the American Meteor Society.

Normal meteor rates are expected for the Taurid showers this year. While no swarm is expected until 2025, the display could still provide an impressive show, said Schmoll.

"It's wonderful to take moments to appreciate the beauty of the universe and feel connected to nature. There's something truly exciting about witnessing that streak of light as Earth interacts with the rest of the solar system," Schmoll said.

Meteors from the Southern Taurids are expected to continue streaking across the sky until they reach their final peak on December 8, according to the American Meteor Society.

Upcoming celestial phenomena

The Northern Taurids will peak about a week later, on November 11 and 12, and sky-gazers may notice a boost in meteor activity as both the Southern and Northern Taurid showers coincide.

Here are the remaining meteor showers of 2024, along with their peak dates, according to the American Meteor Society:

Leonids: November 16-17

Geminids: December 12-13

Ursids: December 21-22

Don’t miss the last two full moons of 2024: the Beaver Moon, a supermoon, on November 15, and the Cold Moon on December 15, according to the Farmers’ Almanac.