Astrology

Four meteor showers are active in November, with the Northern Taurids peaking soon.

Four meteor showers are active in November, the Denver Gazette reports, with the Northern Taurids due to peak on the night of November 11. The moon will be about 5% illuminated at the peak, and the shower can sometimes produce an increase in bright fireballs.

The Southern Taurids peaked on the night of November 4, while the Orionids peaked on October 21, according to the Denver Gazette. The Leonids begin their active period on November 6 and peak on the night of November 16, when the moon is about 42% illuminated.

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The Taurid showers peak on different nights#

The Southern Taurids remain active through November 20, CW39 Houston reports. Bright fireballs distinguish the shower, although observers see only a handful of meteors per hour. Its meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Taurus.

The Northern Taurids also appear to originate near Taurus, but from a different region of the constellation, according to CW39 Houston. Their active period runs from October 20 through December 10, with the peak on the night of November 11 into November 12.

CW39 Houston reports that the moon was about 22% illuminated during the Southern Taurids peak, compared with about 5% at the Northern Taurids peak. Less moonlight makes the sky darker and can make faint meteors easier to spot, the station says.

Debris produces the streaks of light#

Meteor showers occur when Earth passes through debris trails left by comets and asteroids, KSL News reports. The material burns up as it enters the atmosphere, leaving streaks of light. Dust grains and pebbles match most pieces in size, whereas larger debris produces fireballs.

According to KSL News, Southern Taurid meteors reach the atmosphere traveling at about 65,000 miles per hour. The station reports that they move more slowly than Orionid meteors and remain visible for longer. The annual Southern Taurid shower produces roughly five meteors per hour.

The Orionids remain active through November 7, the Denver Gazette reports. According to Space.com, as cited by the Gazette, the best time to view the Beaver Moon later in the month is before dawn on November 24. It will also appear fully lit on the nights of November 23 and November 24.

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