Southern Taurid meteor shower expected to produce fireballs around midnight Thursday

The Southern Taurid meteor shower will reach its peak around midnight Thursday, with the estimated maximum occurring at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 5, according to EarthSky. Meteors from this shower travel at about 65,000 mph, making them slower and more visible than faster streams such as the Orionids, and they appear to radiate from the Taurus constellation.

"What makes the Taurids spectacular is that they're rich in bright fireballs," said Bill Cooke, head of NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office. "There are not many of them, but when you see one, you'll remember it. It'll leave a brilliant streak across the sky."

"That can be really exciting — it's much less common to see a fireball," said astronomer Bethany Cobb Kung, associate professor of honors and physics at George Washington University.

The fireballs, which can be brighter than Venus, result from debris ranging from the size of a marble to a small boulder. While the Southern Taurids typically produce about five meteors per hour, they are visible from most locations worldwide except the South Pole. A crescent moon will be present, improving visibility.

Kung advised observers to locate the Orion constellation first and then look toward the right to find Taurus. Cooke recommended finding a dark site, allowing eyes to adjust for at least thirty minutes, and avoiding phone screens.

"Just look up and take in the show," Cooke added. "It's the simplest form of astronomy. All you need is your eyes."

The Southern Taurid shower, which began in September, will continue until Nov. 20. It overlaps with the Northern Taurid shower, which peaks on Nov. 12. Both streams originate from debris left by comet 2P/Encke, a comet with a 3.3-year orbital period that broke apart roughly 20,000 years ago, creating multiple meteor showers.

Cooke noted that his forecasting work helps protect spacecraft from debris. He said the planet will encounter a denser swarm of Taurid material in 2032, potentially producing many more fireballs.

"If you're out the night of Halloween in 2032 and skies are clear, you may see lots of brilliant fireballs blazing above your head," Cooke said. "We're kind of in a lull before the thunderstorms occur."

Astronomy enthusiasts have several other meteor showers to watch before the year ends, with peak dates listed in various sky-gazing guides.