The upcoming peak of the Southern Taurids meteor shower this weekend promises a breathtaking experience for avid stargazers. The American Meteor Society forecasts that the display will reach its climax around 8:47 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Southern Taurids
What makes the Southern Taurids stand out is their remarkable fireballs. These bright meteors, even outshining Venus, are a beautiful sight in the night sky, as explained by NASA. “Meteors are a part of the night sky that just are out of the norm for people,” said Bill Cooke, lead of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “Meteors are a transitory part of the night sky, and people get fascinated by that.”
How to see the Taurids
According to Cooke, the best time to catch the meteor showers is after midnight in any time zone. He advises patience, as the Southern Taurids usually have a frequency of only about five meteors per hour. Cooke recommends looking away from the moon and taking in as much of the sky as possible with your eyes, suggesting against the use of telescopes because of their narrow field of view.
The moon’s brightness
Despite potential concerns about moonlight affecting the visibility of fainter meteors, Cooke assures that the brightness of the Taurids will likely make them visible regardless of the moon’s glow.
Taurids and Comet Encke
The Southern Taurids originate from Comet Encke, known for its remarkably short orbit among comets in our solar system. Comet Encke recently had its last close approach to the sun on October 22. The debris trail left by this comet during its journey generates the Southern Taurid meteor shower as Earth intersects its path.
Taurids activity
Although Comet Encke came close to the sun recently, the Southern Taurid shower is expected to produce lower rates of activity this year. Last year, an increase in Taurid activity was observed, attributed to Jupiter’s gravitational influence concentrating the comet’s debris along Earth’s orbital path.
Expect the unexpected
Cooke emphasizes the unpredictable nature of meteor showers, expressing openness to the possibility of unexpected occurrences during this year’s event. The Southern Taurids will continue to light up the night sky until December 8, overlapping with the Northern Taurids, which have been active since mid-October.
More about meteor showers
Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through a stream of debris left by a comet or an asteroid. As these particles collide with Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up, creating bright streaks across the sky – meteors.
