This month offers several opportunities for seeing meteor showers and maybe even a fireball or two! The Northern Taurid and Leonid meteors showers will take us through most of the month of November. Here’s what you need to know…
The Northern Taurids
The Taurids are an annual meteor shower, like no other, originating from the particles of Comet Encke. The name “Taurids” comes from the constellation Taurus the Bull because Taurid’s meteors look like they originate from there. It’s believed that Encke and the rocky particles causing the Taurid meteors are remnants of a much larger comet that crumbled over the past 20,000 to 30,000 years, breaking into several pieces.
Because the meteor stream is so spread out in space, it takes Earth several weeks to pass through it. In fact, we see separate segments of the stream (the Northern Taurids and Southern Taurids) as distinct meteor showers. All told, this stream of cometary debris is the largest in the inner solar system.
Great Balls of Fire!
According to the American Meteor Society, the Taurids aren’t known for high numbers of meteors, but for the fireballs – extremely bright meteors – they produce. Because the comet is made up of of heavier material, pebbles as opposed to grains of dust responsible for fainter meteors, the particles entering Earth’s atmosphere create even brighter fiery trails.
Best Time to View
Unlike many other meteor showers, the Taurids is as strong in the evening as it is in the morning. Because these meteors streak all over the sky, you don’t have to be looking directly toward the constellation Taurus to see them. The Northern Taurids are expected to peak Nov. 11-12.
The legendary Leonids meteor shower, stemming from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, has created some of the most spectacular meteor storms in history. Appearing to emanate from the constellation Leo the Lion, the Leonids are most famous for their astounding performance in 1966. On the morning of November 17, 1966, thousands of meteors per minute rained down in just one a 15-minute span! Many who experienced it said felt like driving into a snow storm. According to one witness, “The surrounding area, as far as one could see, was lit up just like noon!”
It’s unlikely that this year’s show will come even close to The Great Leonid Meteor Shower of 1966 – Leonid meteor storms cycle about every 33 years – but that doesn’t mean there won’t be some meteors to observe.
Best Time to View
The Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak in the early morning hours of the Nov. 16-17, though under the bright light of waning gibbous moon.
Best Way to Watch Meteor Showers
- Find a wide-open viewing area and don’t use a telescope or binoculars. You don’t want to limit the amount of sky you can see at one time. Your eyes will work just fine.
- If possible, get out of town and travel to a dark place away from artificial lights and light pollution for the best view. Let your eyes adjust to the dark.
- Prepare to wait: Bring something to sit or lie down on. Meteors are a waiting game, so get comfortable and be prepared to relax and enjoy the event!