Once a year, our planet passes through two separate streams of debris. The debris ejected from the ancient comet crashes into our atmosphere at speeds of about 65,000 miles per hour and burns brightly, creating a cascade of meteors in the sky. In fact, it is these clashes that cause the annual appearance of the Southern and Northern Taurids.
Usually these two meteor showers are barely noticeable, but sometimes they produce a dazzling display of fireballs. So, find out when and where you can spot the Southern and Northern Taurids this year, and why they're here in the first place.
Read more: Thousands of meteorites fall on Earth every year – here's what they bring
Southern and Northern Taurids.
In 2025, the Southern Taurids will shine from approximately September 20 to November 20, and the Northern Taurids will shine from approximately October 20 to December 10. While the showers are more stunning when they coincide (it makes sense that two meteor showers are usually more stunning when they are together), they will peak separately. According to American Meteor SocietyThe Southern Taurids are forecast to peak between November 4th and 5th, and the Northern Taurids will peak between November 11th and 12th.
During the two peaks, skywatchers could see up to 5 meteors streaking across the sky per hour, all from the same shower. However, a full moon during the Southern Taurids maximum and a crescent moon during the Northern Taurids maximum can eclipse the meteors, hiding them from view. The best way to spot something is to turn towards the constellation Taurus during the two peaks, where the meteors will be concentrated.
Taurid meteors are best seen around midnight and tend to be both slow and bright in the sky. Not only that, but the Southern and Northern Taurids are known for their fireball meteors—meteors that appear as bright as Venus (or brighter) to observers. According to NASAThese fireball meteors can produce longer bursts of light and color than most meteors because they come from larger debris ranging from a few inches to several feet across.
Read more: Near-Earth asteroids could be the source of future meteor showers
Spectacle from an ancient source
Small or large, the debris feeding the Taurids comes from two separate streams. ancient comet – the one that broke apart in space about 20,000 years ago. At this time, something crashed into the comet, or its ice began to melt, and the rotating object fell apart into pieces – a collection of smaller comets and asteroids, called the Encke Complex.
Although the debris trail of one of the objects in this complex, comet 2P/Encke, forms the Southern Taurids, it is the remains of another object, asteroid 2004 TG.10which suggests the Northern Taurids. However, it is possible that other asteroids in the system also play a role in this shower, contributing to its spectacle.
So look up at the sky this fall and you'll see the wreckage glowing. If you're lucky, the ancient comet that once traveled through space will continue to sparkle in pieces and jiggles, bursting into the sky like fireballs.
Read more: Swarm of near-Earth comets linked to recent ice giant breakup
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