The Northern Taurids are the quieter half of the autumn Taurid showers, and in 2026 they peak on the nights of November 11 to 12. The Southern Taurids peak a few days earlier, around November 4 to 5, so the first two weeks of November offer a long, slow meteor season rather than a single sharp night.

Taurids are slow, bright and long-lasting. Their meteors enter the atmosphere at a modest speed, so they linger, and the shower is famous for fireballs, meteors bright enough to cast shadows. Rates are low, usually around five per hour under dark skies, but a single Taurid fireball is worth an hour of watching a faster shower.

The moon helps this year. The moon is a slim crescent during both Taurid peaks and sets early, so the after-midnight sky stays dark. That matters, because moonlight is the single biggest factor in how good a meteor shower looks from the ground, and a bright moon can cut visible counts by more than half.

The radiant sits in Taurus, near the red star Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster. The best viewing is after midnight, when Taurus rides high in the southern sky. Do not stare directly at the radiant: meteors appear longer and more spectacular when you look 40 to 45 degrees away from it, scanning a wide patch of dark sky.

No telescope or binoculars are needed, and they would only slow you down. Find a spot away from streetlights, bring a reclining chair and warm layers, give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark, and plan to watch for at least an hour. November nights are cold, so dress for winter even if the evening feels mild.