Taurid Meteor Shower Entering Earth's Atmosphere This Week: How to Spot Its Fireballs

Mar. 15, 2025

The Orionids meteor shower seen from China in 2020.Photo:Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images

A meteor shower known for its fiery balls of flames will be visible in the sky this week.According to theAmerican Meteor Society, the seasonal Southern Taurids meteor shower will be visible during its peak on the evening of Monday, Nov. 4 — and space fans will have the best visibility on early Tuesday morning, just after midnight.Although the Taurids, along with its companion branch, the Northern Taurids, are active throughout the fall months, they both usually peak around November, the AMS said.EarthSkyreported that the best way to view these meteor showers is in a dark environment — and it helps that the moon will only be 11 % full on Monday night.“Patience is very good, especially with these showers,” Dr. Shannon Schmoll, the director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, toldCNN, adding that people should “try to go outside when it’s clear and get a comfortable chair and something warm, maybe some hot cocoa, and just sort of plop yourself down and watch the sky.“The Taurids — named for their proximity to the Taurus constellation — are also known for their flaming fireballs, which according toNASA, are made fromComet Encke’s debris. Fireballs occur when meteors are over 3 feet in size, making the flames much brighter and more visible from Earth.Meteor showers — which become meteor storms when they have at least 1,000 meteors per hour — are created when comets orbit around the solar system and litter debris. When they enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up, resulting in meteors. If a bigger piece falls to Earth, that becomes a meteorite.“If you have larger chunks of material, it will take longer to burn up, so it’ll be a brighter, longer streak — a fireball is one of these [relatively] big ones,” Schmoll said, per CNN.Orionid meteors seen in 2015.Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty ImagesNever miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Although the Taurids occur regularly, they only experience a major storm every three or seven years. Officials have predicted that the next instance of major activity will be in 2025.For those stargazers who end up missing the Southern Taurids on Monday night, another meteor shower is on its way.NASAreports that the Leonids, a seasonal event named for constellation Leo, will enter peak visibility on Monday, Nov. 18, around midnight local time. The Northern Taurids will also peak on the night of Monday, Nov, 11 — though visibility may not be as good due to the brighter moon.“Find an area well away from the city or street lights. Come prepared for winter temperatures with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair,“NASArecommended to Leonid viewers. “Orient yourself with your feet toward the east, lie flat on your back, and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.““In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors,” the agency added. “Be patient — the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.”

A meteor shower known for its fiery balls of flames will be visible in the sky this week.

According to theAmerican Meteor Society, the seasonal Southern Taurids meteor shower will be visible during its peak on the evening of Monday, Nov. 4 — and space fans will have the best visibility on early Tuesday morning, just after midnight.

Although the Taurids, along with its companion branch, the Northern Taurids, are active throughout the fall months, they both usually peak around November, the AMS said.

EarthSkyreported that the best way to view these meteor showers is in a dark environment — and it helps that the moon will only be 11 % full on Monday night.

“Patience is very good, especially with these showers,” Dr. Shannon Schmoll, the director of Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University, toldCNN, adding that people should “try to go outside when it’s clear and get a comfortable chair and something warm, maybe some hot cocoa, and just sort of plop yourself down and watch the sky.”

The Taurids — named for their proximity to the Taurus constellation — are also known for their flaming fireballs, which according toNASA, are made fromComet Encke’s debris. Fireballs occur when meteors are over 3 feet in size, making the flames much brighter and more visible from Earth.

Meteor showers — which become meteor storms when they have at least 1,000 meteors per hour — are created when comets orbit around the solar system and litter debris. When they enter Earth’s atmosphere, they burn up, resulting in meteors. If a bigger piece falls to Earth, that becomes a meteorite.

“If you have larger chunks of material, it will take longer to burn up, so it’ll be a brighter, longer streak — a fireball is one of these [relatively] big ones,” Schmoll said, per CNN.

Orionid meteors seen in 2015.Costfoto/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Although the Taurids occur regularly, they only experience a major storm every three or seven years. Officials have predicted that the next instance of major activity will be in 2025.

For those stargazers who end up missing the Southern Taurids on Monday night, another meteor shower is on its way.NASAreports that the Leonids, a seasonal event named for constellation Leo, will enter peak visibility on Monday, Nov. 18, around midnight local time. The Northern Taurids will also peak on the night of Monday, Nov, 11 — though visibility may not be as good due to the brighter moon.

“Find an area well away from the city or street lights. Come prepared for winter temperatures with a sleeping bag, blanket or lawn chair,“NASArecommended to Leonid viewers. “Orient yourself with your feet toward the east, lie flat on your back, and look up, taking in as much of the sky as possible.”

“In less than 30 minutes in the dark, your eyes will adapt and you will begin to see meteors,” the agency added. “Be patient — the show will last until dawn, so you have plenty of time to catch a glimpse.”

source: people.com