Look Up! Taurid Meteor Fireballs Set To Light Up Night Skies This Week

This week, stargazers across the country have been enjoying a stunning celestial light show in the form of the Taurid meteor showers. However, the best is yet to come as the shower is set to peak tomorrow, November 11.

What makes the Taurids unique is how they are structured. The shower splits into two streams known as the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. As Earth plows through these trails of debris left behind by space rocks and comets, we get this prolonged window of activity stretching from late autumn into early winter. Because the debris tends to consist of slightly larger pebbles and chunks, when they hit the upper atmosphere, they put on a much brighter, albeit more leisurely show. They might not streak across the sky in high quantities or at lightning speed like some other showers, but when a Taurid fireball decides to show off, it can be as bright as Venus or even cast shadows on the ground.

Even better, stargazing conditions have lined up nicely for anyone willing to brave the chilly night air. Ideal viewing times usually kick in around midnight when the Taurus constellation climbs highest into the southern sky, giving your eyes the best possible angle to catch stray streaks cutting through the night. A waxing moon phase also will help keep the skies nice and dark, too.

You won't need fancy telescopes or high-end gear to catch the show either. Most astronomers and hobbyists agree that binoculars and tracking scopes can actually narrow your field of view too much. The best approach is simply finding a dark patch of open sky away from blinding city lights, grabbing a comfortable lawn chair or a thick blanket, and letting your eyes adjust to the darkness for about twenty to thirty minutes. Bundle up in warm layers, lean back, and keep your phone safely tucked away so you don't ruin your night vision.