November 2024 Taurid Meteor Shower Tonight
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| In the above NASA photo taken from the International Space Station, the lights of Florida are clearly visible to the right of the meteor. Cuba, the Florida Keys and the eastern Gulf Coast shoreline are also visible. Some brilliant flashes of lightning are also prevalent in the image. Image credit: NASA/JSC/D. Pettit |
DALLAS, Texas - A stunning view from of a meteor breaking up over Dallas, Texas was posted on social media Saturday night.
Stunning View of a Meteor Burning Up in the Atmosphere pic.twitter.com/kRl7m2jvIv
— Black Hole (@konstructivizm) November 10, 2024
The Taurid meteor shower is predicted to peak on November 11, 2024.
Every year from September to November, the Earth passes through a broad stream of debris left by Comet 2/P Encke.
The dust associated with the comet hits the Earth’s atmosphere at 65,000 mph and burns up, creating the Taurid meteor shower.
During most years, the shower is weak, and only a few Taurid meteors can be seen each night.
Other years, the Taurids can put on a show and produce huge fireballs.
How to watch the Taurid Meteor Shower
For optimal viewing, find an open sky, lie on the ground, and look straight up into the dark sky. It is important to be far away from artificial lights. Your eyes can take up to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness, so allow plenty of time for your eyes to dark-adapt.
Taurid meteors can be seen any time the constellation Taurus is above the horizon during the months of September, October, and November.
The best time to look for Taurids is after midnight, when Taurus is high in the sky, and when the sky is dark and clear, with no moonlight or twilight to mask the fainter meteors.
Where to look for the Taurids
First, find Orion’s noticeable three-star belt in the night sky. Then look slightly to the west to find the Taurus constellation and the radiant of the Taurid meteor shower where the meteors appear to originate.
Two regions of comet dust produce two different radiant points known as the North Taurids and South Taurids. Both radiant points can be found by finding the Taurus constellation.
The South Taurids are visible through November 30 and the North Taurids are visible through December 10.
Two Meteor Showers In November
In addition to the Leonid meteor shower, the Leonid meteor shower also occurs from November 5th through November 30th, so skywatchers will be treated to a double meteor shower show in November.
