Northern Taurids meteor shower to light up the Austin sky this week

An unusually bright Geminid meteor on Dec. 12, 2012. Constellation Orion is on the left and the Pleiades star cluster at far right; Jupiter was in this part of the sky at the time and appears like a bright star above the meteor. [Photo by John Flannery (Own work) CC BY-SA 2], via Wikimedia Commons]

Central Texas skies could put on a small show again this week as the Northern Taurids return for another round of slow, bright meteors over Austin.

The Northern Taurids are a long-running meteor shower that produces just a few meteors per hour — but they’re famous for the occasional fireball. The stream stays active from late October through early December, and this week’s best window runs Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, when the radiant climbs highest.

Where to watch the Northern Taurids meteor shower

No telescope needed. Just lie back and scan the whole sky. If you want a landmark, find Orion rising in the east, then look up and left toward Taurus and the Pleiades. That’s the radiant — where the meteors appear to originate — but you can see them streak across any part of the sky. The key is simple: avoid city lights.

What time to look

Plan for midnight to pre-dawn Tuesday night and again Wednesday night, when Taurus is overhead. Rates stay modest this week — about two meteors per hour — but Taurids move slowly and can flare bright.

The moon is in its last-quarter phase, so try blocking it with a tree or building to boost contrast.

Clear, dry skies are expected both nights. Tuesday night should stay cool and calm, while Wednesday night looks slightly warmer with similar visibility.

Why these meteors happen

The Taurids are debris shed by Comet Encke and related objects. The stream sometimes contains larger fragments, which is why Taurids have a reputation for delivering fireballs, even during low-rate years.

Your meteor-viewing checklist

1. Bring a reclining chair and extra layers.
2. Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust.
3. Turn your phone brightness way down.
4. Keep scanning and be patient.