Taurids meteor shower to reach its peak on bonfire night in UK

The annual meteor shower associated with the comet Encke called Taurid meteor shower will reportedly be seen across the sky in Britain this week. Spectators have planned on spending their nights in bonfires to get the view of the sparkling meteors. The shower will be at its peak on November 5 evening giving the citizens a perfect opportunity to watch numerous shooting stars. Have a look at the details of where and when to see it.

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When and how to spot the meteors?

Taurid Meteor Shower generally runs every year from September 7 to December 10. This year, it will be highly concentrated on November 5 which is coincidentally bonfire night in the UK. Such showers produce around 5-10 meteors per hour, so one has to keen to spot one. The date is also a First Quarter Moon - a primary moon phase when we can see exactly half of the moon’s surface illuminated. The moon will be out of focus shortly after midnight. Timings past 12 are the best to look out for meteors. 

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“Taurid meteors can be seen any time the constellation Taurus is above the horizon during the months of September, October, and November. The best time to look for Taurids is after midnight when Taurus is high in the sky, and when the sky is dark and clear, with no moonlight to mask the fainter meteors, ” explained NASA in a statement.

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More about the Taurid meteor shower

Meteors from two separate streams make the Taurid meteor shower. Of them, the first one glows brightly as they enter earth and are called Northern Taurids. They are made of dust grains left behind by asteroid 2004 TG10. The second one called the Southern Taurus is produced by debris left behind by Comet 2P Encke which is to be seen in November. The Taurids are going to be followed by another shower called Leonids Meteor Shower which will peak on November 17 and might produce 15 meteors per hour. 

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