Northern Taurids Offer 8-12 Meteors an Hour as Nov. 9 New Moon Sharpens Viewing

Q: With only a few meteors per hour, is braving the November cold truly worth the wait for a single blinding fireball?

Yes—if you go in with the right expectations. The Southern Taurids are not a high-volume shower. Under dark, clear skies, most observers will see about five meteors an hour, sometimes a few more when activity overlaps with the Northern Taurids. That means long quiet stretches are normal. But the Taurids are valued for quality, not quantity: they are unusually slow, often bright, and occasionally produce fireballs bright enough to rival Venus and briefly light the sky. That makes them a good target for patient skywatchers, casual observers and photographers, especially this year because moonlight is minimal around the Nov. 4-5 peak. You do not need to catch an exact minute, since the shower has a broad peak and remains active for weeks. The best viewing is around midnight into the pre-dawn hours, when Taurus is higher in the sky. It is less worth it if you are expecting a Perseids- or Geminids-style barrage. For sheer numbers, the Geminids in mid-December are the better bet, with peak rates that can reach around 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The Taurids are more of a low-pressure watch: one spectacular fireball can be the night’s payoff. The practical answer is to keep it simple. Watch from a dark site, use only your eyes, dress warmly, and give it at least an hour. If you are already willing to spend time under a clear November sky, the chance of a rare, brilliant Taurid fireball makes the wait worthwhile.

3 articles · Updated · Good News Network · Nov 5

Nov. 9 offers the clearest shot at the Northern Taurids even though the shower peaks around Nov. 12, because the New Moon will minimize light pollution.
The shower is expected to produce about 8-12 meteors an hour, including the bright fireballs and long glowing tails that make the Taurids stand out.
Nov. 10 should remain nearly as favorable, with a 1-day-old moon unlikely to add much glare for skywatchers worldwide.
Taurus is the key viewing area for both observers and photographers, who can use 20- to 30-second tripod exposures to capture the meteors' long trails.