11/04/2024 – 11/06/2024
The Taurid meteor shower, which includes both Southern and Northern Taurids, is known for its long duration, typically lasting from September 28 to December 2, but it generally offers only about five meteors per hour even at its peak. The Taurids are notable for a high percentage of fireballs, or exceptionally bright meteors. In 2022, an increased rate of fireball activity, known as the Taurid swarm, was observed, likely due to Jupiter's gravitational influence on the debris in Earth's path. This type of thing seems to happen every seven years or so...
The best viewing times for the Taurids are typically around midnight, when the constellation Taurus is highest in the sky. The meteors, which can be slow-moving but occasionally very bright, are best viewed in the mornings before the peak, as the moon gets fuller each night after.
The Taurids are unusual in having two separate streams: one produced by debris from Asteroid 2004 TG10 and the other from Comet 2P Encke.
