“You truly just need to go outside. Have some patience more than anything,” Waylon Troyer, the planetarium director at Science Museum Oklahoma, said.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks on November 11–12, 2026. Skywatchers can see bright fireballs streaking across the night sky.
The shower typically produces about five meteors per hour. But its reputation for producing luminous, slow-moving fireballs makes it a notable celestial event.
The Northern Taurids are active from October 20 through December 10, according to Moneycontrol. Although the peak occurs overnight between 11 and 12, the American Meteor Society says the shower remains active for several weeks. This provides multiple viewing opportunities.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is here! 🌠 Active from October 20th to December 10th, this meteor shower peaks overnight November 11th to 12th. For the best view of the Northern Taurids, head outside and look up around midnight. pic.twitter.com/AIjlxfoP0j
Moon phases aid observers
The moon phase should help viewing. CNN reports that NASA is projecting a 4 percent-full, waxing crescent moon. This provides a darker sky for observers.
“The observing conditions should be very good,” said Mark Boslough, a research professor in the department of Earth and planetary sciences at the University of New Mexico, as reported by JournalArta. “There’s no moonlight to really interfere with getting to see these.”
Meteors can be seen throughout the sky. They appear to radiate from the Taurus constellation.
“You don’t necessarily have to look at the constellation — they radiate out of the constellation, but you can see them anywhere in the sky,” Boslough told CNN.
Visibility in the United States depends on local weather. WEIS reports that the National Weather Service forecast for the Centre area includes partly cloudy skies. There is a 30 percent chance of showers between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
The outlook is less favorable in the Pacific Northwest. The National Weather Service indicated that a series of North Pacific storms would bring gusty winds, rain, and snow in the mountains during the week, according to Newsweek. Parts of the Northeast may have better conditions.
Tips for watching the shower
Observers do not need a telescope or specialist equipment. MARCA notes that people can view the event with the naked eye. This provides a wider field of view and increases the likelihood of spotting meteors.
NASA advises finding a dark location away from artificial light. People should allow about 30 minutes for eyes to adjust to the darkness. Even a split second of light from a flashlight or phone can ruin night vision for another half hour, according to David Young of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City, as reported by ABC17News. Observers should avoid looking at bright screens during this time.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is expected to peak by Thursday, with minimal light pollution from the moon. https://t.co/7q2y04mbLZ
The National Park Service has more than 40 units with International Dark Sky Place certification. MARCA mentions these for those seeking dark-sky environments. Specific recommendations include Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas, Arches National Park in Utah, and Death Valley National Park in California and Nevada.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department identifies certain areas in Texas as having some of the darkest skies in the state. Some locations reach a Bortle Class 1 rating.
Waylon Troyer, the planetarium director at Science Museum Oklahoma, suggests heading about 45 minutes west toward El Reno or 45 minutes north of the Oklahoma City metro near Edmond to escape city lights. KOCO reports that Troyer recommends having patience and simply going outside for the best experience.
Debris creates complex paths
Earth passes through debris left by an asteroid known as 2004 TG10. This asteroid was discovered in 2004. Scientists believe this object was once part of a larger object that broke apart roughly 20,000 years ago. This created the Encke Complex. CNN notes that Comet Encke is another fragment associated with the related Southern Taurids.
The stream is not a simple path of dust. “It’s not a simple meteor stream,” Boslough told CNN. “With the Taurids, there’s many different components to the complex.” A more recent study, according to EarthSky, theorized that 2004 TG10 may be just one of 10 asteroids responsible for the Northern Taurids.
Planetary defense experts monitor the shower to assess the risk of objects that could hit Earth. Boslough’s team published a paper regarding the Taurid stream in 2025. Researchers suggest the stream may contain more potentially dangerous objects, according to CNN.
The team is preparing for a dense Taurid meteor shower expected in 2032. JournalArta reports that the team plans to use a telescope to detect small, dark objects by monitoring the heat they emit.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is expected to peak by Thursday, with minimal light pollution from the moon. https://t.co/6omTNAHOrT
Boslough said this monitoring is a matter of “due diligence” rather than a response to any immediate threat. He said that the idea of a dense swarm of dangerous objects is hypothetical and lacks evidence.
How space debris creates fireballs and meteors
Tiny particles of space debris enter the atmosphere at high speeds to create meteors. They heat up to produce glowing streaks of light. Most are so small they disappear before reaching the ground.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is expected to peak by Thursday, with minimal light pollution from the moon. https://t.co/73XGxOVYCq
Larger fragments can create fireballs. These range from the size of a marble to a small boulder. NASA defines a fireball as an exceptionally bright meteor that outshines Venus. These may appear as larger explosions of light and color that last longer in the sky than average meteor streaks.
The Taurids are divided into two related showers: the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. The Southern Taurids are sometimes nicknamed “Halloween fireballs.” They peaked around November 4–5, 2026.
The Southern Taurids end on November 12. Because they overlap with the Northern Taurids, the typical meteor rate can double. While the Northern Taurids typically produce about five meteors per hour, the overlap may increase this frequency.
Other astronomical events are approaching in late 2026 if people miss the Taurids. According to ABC17News, the Leonids are expected to peak around November 17–18. The Geminids and the Ursids will follow in December.
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is expected to peak by Thursday, with minimal light pollution from the moon. https://t.co/wqtgVGt2MN
“Even though they don’t necessarily have a lot of meteors that are active during the shower, it is known for occasionally producing a handful of fireballs,” Waylon Troyer told KOCO.
Earlier coverage: Northern Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks November 12 With Bright Fireballs Expected