Fremont Stargazers in for Treat with Taurid Meteor Shower and November Shooting Stars
FREMONT, CA — The upcoming weekend promises to be a spectacular time for stargazers in Fremont as they have the best chances to witness the Taurid meteors, which have been lighting up the night sky since late September.
But the Taurids are not the only reason for excitement. Shooting stars will continue to blaze across the sky throughout November, with the highly anticipated Leonids reaching their peak in mid-month and continuing into early 2024. However, towards the end of November, the moon will pose a challenge for stargazers. The full beaver moon is expected on November 27th this year.
The long-running Taurid meteor shower will be the highlight of the next two months of incredible skywatching. Consisting of two different debris streams, the Southern Taurids and Northern Taurids, both streams are currently active. While they don’t have a well-defined peak, the southern stream is predicted to reach its peak on Sunday night. Any night this weekend will be an excellent time to scan the skies.
However, the weather in Fremont may hinder the viewing experience, as clouds are expected to obscure the sky from Thursday through Sunday, with Monday being a transitional day. Stargazers can remain hopeful as the skies should clear for stargazing on Tuesday, just two days after the predicted peak.
The Taurid meteor shower is known for producing a higher percentage of fireballs among the five or 10 slow-moving meteors per hour. However, stargazers should keep their expectations low for a repeat of last year’s “Taurid fireball swarm,” which happens approximately every seven years. Last year’s fireball display occurred in 2015.
Even if the weather doesn’t cooperate this weekend, there are still plenty of opportunities to see the Taurids. The Southern Taurids will remain active until December 8th, while the Northern Taurids are expected to peak overnight on November 11th-12th and continue until around December 2nd. When the two meteor showers intersect, skywatchers can expect to see about 10 shooting stars per hour.
Unlike the slow-moving Taurid meteors, the upcoming Leonid meteor shower, which begins its peak on November 17th-18th and continues until December 2nd, will offer a faster and more impressive show. On the calendar for meteor enthusiasts, the Geminid meteor shower starts on November 19th and runs through Christmas Eve, reaching its peak on the night of December 13th-14th. Considered one of the strongest meteor showers of the year, the Geminids are highly anticipated by stargazers and are known for producing bright, intensely colorful meteors, especially before midnight. According to NASA, the Geminids can produce up to 120 meteors an hour at their peak.
Following the Geminids, the Ursid meteor shower will intersect with the Geminids, running from December 13th-24th and peaking on December 21st-22nd. Although the Ursids are less intense, with only a few meteors per hour, they present a unique opportunity for avid skywatchers. Additionally, the Ursids intersect with the Quadrantids, which are potentially the strongest shower of the year. However, the Quadrantids are known to be challenging to catch as their peak lasts only about six hours on January 3rd-4th. Also, the cold weather during that time often discourages prolonged outdoor observation. Nevertheless, under dark skies, one could witness up to 120 meteors per hour.
Once the Quadrantids fade, meteor showers will not reappear until the spring of 2024. So, stargazers in Fremont are urged to take advantage of the upcoming meteor showers, starting with the Taurids this weekend, and to keep an eye on the weather conditions for optimum viewing opportunities.