It is finally that time of the year, when stargazers and night enthusiasts can look up in the sky to witness a lovely spectacle of fireballs. The Southern Taurid meteor shower, an annual sky show, will be in peak activity from the midnight hours of November 3 till November 4.
This yearly meteor shower, which is widely regarded as a small but prolific shower, is one of the two showers of the Taurid Complex meteor shower, the other being the Northern Taurids. Despite being small in comparison, the Southern Taurids produce fireballs, or larger meteors that last longer in the sky, creating a beautiful looming spectacle.
Unlike other annual meteor showers, the Southern Taurids’ peak duration is prolonged over a period of two weeks, and during this time, viewers can encounter multiple fireballs of varying brilliance and duration each time the shower reaches its peak activity. The meteor shower is also believed to trace its way through the night sky all the way to the end of November.
The estimation for the best time to catch a glimpse of the fireballs is that shortly after the move, when the night sky gets sufficiently dark and the sky occupiers are easily spotable. Though as per reports, the peak activity will be the most intense on the night of November 3 and 4, the meteors can be witnessed in the nights to come, possibly until the end of the month.
It goes without saying that a meteor shower such as the Southern Taurids is a moment to seize. So, take a break from the daily hustle and head to an open space, preferably away from large obstruction of buildings, and wait for the dancing fireballs to make their appearance.