November Meteor Showers Are Starting To Peak.

The Leonid, Southern And Northern Taurids Meteor Showers are Here

The Sothern Taurids are the first to peak with maximum activity Thursday, Nov. 4, into the early hours of Friday, Nov. 5. Northern Taurids one week later on the night of Thursday, Nov. 11, into Friday, Nov. 12. The Taurids are created by debris left behind by Encke’s comet, a periodic comet that completes an orbit of the Sun once every 3.3 years. Discovered in 1786, but recognized and named in 1`819, after the astronomer who computed it’s annual trajectory.

Even if you miss the peaks both showers are long lasting events active for weeks, best known for the fireballs seen from September into November. The peak showers average five to ten meteors per hour, but they are usually colorful.
A fireball is an incredibly bright meteor that can light up the sky for a couple of seconds. We saw one surf fishing once. The whole beach lit up for a hot second. The best time for viewing the Taurids is after midnight. Looks towards the constellation Taurus for the radiant point for the southern Taurids.

The Leonid meteor shower will peak during the night of Wednesday, Nov. 17, into the early morning of Thursday, Nov. 18. The Leonids usually produce around a dozen meteors per hour with a few fireballs possible from the Taurids.