Science & Tech · Space · 11 hrs ago
Taurid meteor showers may bring bright fireballs in November 2026
The Taurids are two related meteor showers, the Southern Taurids and Northern Taurids, visible from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
They are active from September to December, with their activity overlapping in late October and November.
The Southern Taurids are expected to peak overnight on Nov.
4-5, and the Northern Taurids on Nov.
11-12.
Both showers produce only about five meteors per hour under ideal conditions, but they can create exceptionally bright fireballs.
Their meteors move relatively slowly across the sky, making some easier to notice.
The moon is expected to be dim or nearly absent during both peak nights, which should leave the sky dark.
Clear skies will still be needed to see them.
The Taurid meteor showers may bring bright fireballs to the night sky in November 2026.
The Southern Taurids are expected to peak overnight on Nov. 4-5, while the Northern Taurids are expected to peak overnight on Nov. 11-12.
Both showers can produce exceptionally bright, slow-moving meteors, though each averages about five meteors per hour under ideal conditions.
The showers overlap in late October and November and are visible from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
Moonlight is expected to cause little interference around both peak periods.
- Who
- Skywatchers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.
- What
- The Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers may produce bright fireballs.
- When
- The Southern Taurids peak overnight on Nov. 4-5, 2026; the Northern Taurids peak overnight on Nov. 11-12.
- Where
- In the night sky, appearing to come from near the Pleiades in the constellation Taurus.
- Why
- The Taurids occasionally produce exceptionally bright, slow-moving meteors.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Southern Taurids become active.
The annual component of the Southern Taurids peaks.
The Northern Taurids become active.
The fireball-associated component of the Southern Taurids is expected to peak.
The Northern Taurids are expected to peak.
The Southern Taurids' active period ends.
- Southern Taurids active period
- Sept. 20-Nov. 20, 2026
- Southern Taurids fireball-associated peak
- Overnight on Nov. 4-5
- Northern Taurids active period
- Oct. 20-Dec. 10, 2026
- Northern Taurids peak
- Overnight on Nov. 11-12
- Average rate
- About five meteors per hour for each shower under ideal conditions
- Southern Taurid speed
- About 17 miles (27 kilometers) per second
What people are saying
You don't see a Taurid meteor; you watch it.
Sources
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