CONCORD, CA — This weekend is the prime opportunity for stargazers in Concord to witness the Taurid meteor shower, which has been active since late September.
However, the Taurids are not the only spectacle in the sky. Throughout November, shooting stars will illuminate the night, culminating with the highly anticipated Leonids in the middle of the month and extending into early 2024. Toward the end of November, the moon may obstruct the view. Notably, the full beaver moon is set to appear on November 27 this year.
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First on the skywatching agenda for the next two months is the longstanding Taurid meteor shower. This phenomenon consists of two debris streams: the Southern Taurids and Northern Taurids. Both streams are currently active, and the predicted peak of the Southern Taurids—although not distinctly defined—occurs overnight on Sunday. Therefore, any night this weekend is an ideal time to gaze at the heavens.
This opportunity is subject to the weather conditions in Concord. According to local forecasters from the National Weather Service San Francisco Bay Area, the nights of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be mostly cloudy, with a 40 percent chance of rain on Saturday night and a possibility of rain on Sunday night.
Friday night seems to be the most favorable for stargazing, but there are still plenty of occasions to observe the Taurids if this weekend’s weather doesn’t cooperate.
If the Taurids are known for anything, it’s their tendency to produce a higher percentage of fireballs among the five or 10 slow-moving meteors per hour. These fireballs are most common during the peak activity of the Southern and Northern Taurids over the next week or so. However, stargazers should keep their expectations in check, as a repeat of last year’s “taurid fireball swarm” is unlikely. Such extraordinary displays only occur approximately every seven years, with the most recent event taking place in 2015.
The Southern Taurids will remain active until December 8, while meteors from the Northern Taurids will continue to streak across the sky overnight on November 11-12. The Northern Taurids have been active since mid-October and will persist until around December 2.
Skywatchers can anticipate about 10 shooting stars per hour during the intersecting period of the two meteor showers. Taurid meteors are slower in comparison to the beautiful Orionid meteor shower last month, whose shooting stars were only surpassed in speed by the upcoming Leonids.
The Leonids will reach their peak on November 17-18 and continue until December 2.
The Geminids will commence on November 19 and persist until Christmas Eve, peaking overnight on December 13-14. This meteor shower is usually one of the most remarkable events of the year. Dedicated stargazers assert that the Geminids consistently produce a significant number of bright and intensely colorful meteors before midnight. According to NASA, the Geminids can unleash up to 120 meteors per hour at their peak.
The Ursid meteor shower overlaps with the Geminids, lasting from December 13 to 24 and peaking on December 21-22. The Ursids are more subdued, with only a scattering of meteors per hour.
Additionally, they intersect with the Quadrantids, potentially the most impressive shower of the year, though also notoriously difficult to witness. The peak occurs on January 3-4, lasting only about six hours. Moreover, the cold weather during that time of year may discourage prolonged stargazing sessions. However, under clear skies, one could observe up to 120 meteors per hour.
Once the Quadrantids subside, meteor showers will not reappear until spring 2024.
