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Sky watchers, prepare for active night skies this week and next. after Supermoon Last week, we also got three annual meteor showers happening right now: the Nordic meteor showers, which peak tonight; the southern Taurids, which have already peaked but continue until November; and the Leonids, which peak early next week.
Although these showers are not as prolific as the larger showers, including August’s Perseids and January’s Quadrantids, you can still admire the meteors with a little luck and a few tips.
Not everyone understands what a meteor shower actually is, but it’s fairly simple. Shooting stars are a common phenomenon in the space surrounding Earth. According to To NASA48.5 tons of meteorite material hits Earth’s atmosphere every year. Sometimes, enough of this material comes from the same place that we humans refer to it as meteor showers.
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The southern phases and the northern phases originate from the constellation Taurus.
Southern supplies: ongoing
Southern Taurids shower, Sun The longest meteor shower of the yearIt lasts for two months.
The Southern Taurids peaked in the evening November 4It produces up to five meteors per hour during that peak, but is expected to continue through this week and next. The Southern Taurids are known for their increased chances of fireballs, meteors that are brighter than most. according to Some reportsThese fireballs can be brighter than Venus when they streak across the night sky.
All meteor showers are named after the constellations in which they appear to originate, the spot known as the radiant. For southern Taurus, the radiant in the constellation Taurus is located near the Pleiades star cluster, so that’s where you want to look for them. Taurus will be visible in the eastern sky shortly after sunset and ends its evening in the western sky with sunrise.
Northern Taurids: Peaks November 11-12
The Northern Taurids meteor shower is scheduled to peak over the next couple of days November 11 and 12. It is identical to the southern Taurids, only with a later peak date. The point of origin will be the constellation Taurus, producing an average of five meteors per hour with an increased chance of fireballs.
The Leonid meteor shower will appear from the constellation Leo.
Leonids: Summits November 16-17
Of the three meteor showers in November, the Leonids should be the most active. It is fed by Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which can produce some dense debris clouds, resulting in very strong rainfall. The Leonids meteor shower is set to reach its peak this weekend November 16 to 17.
Some sources say it is possible to see up to 15 visible meteors per hour, while NASA more conservatively estimates three meteors per hour under a dark sky. It is impossible to know for sure how active this shower will be until it reaches its peak.
As the name suggests, the Leonids will appear from the constellation Leo. Leo can be seen in the eastern sky between midnight and 1 a.m. local time.
According to American Meteor SocietyLeonids produced some intense meteor showers in 2002, but are not scheduled to do so again until 2031, 2064 and 2099 as the comet returns to the solar system. During these rare meteor storms, NASA says It is possible to see up to 1,000 meteors per hour.
The Taurids and Leonids are likely to show up one meteor at a time, so keep your eyes peeled.
Tips for watching meteor showers
Here are some tips and tricks that will help increase your odds of spotting a meteor in November.
Stay away from light pollution
This is the most important guideline to follow. Simply put, city lights make meteors difficult to see.
“Light pollution will definitely hinder your viewing of the meteors,” Michelle Nichols, director of public observation at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, told CNET. “The more light pollution you are exposed to, the fewer meteors you will see.”
Unfavorable conditions can reduce the number of meteors you see by up to 75%, Nichols says.
Head out into the countryside and find a place that’s as dark as possible. (There are other sources of light pollution that humans cannot do anything about, such as the moon.)
The Southern Taurids peak during November’s full moon, which is also a supermoon, meaning they share the maximum amount of light pollution you can get from the moon. If you’re going to skip any of these showers, the Southern Taurids are probably the better choice. The other two showers will have more favorable celestial conditions.
Don’t take any equipment
Meteor showers usually have an origin, but you won’t need binoculars or telescopes.
“You just want to use your eyes,” Nichols said. “Binoculars or telescopes look at smaller parts of the sky, and you want to be able to look around at the entire sky.”
Meteors are so fast, your magnification may hinder your ability to see the entire path. Nichols says that Taurids meteors tend to travel at 17 to 18 miles per second while Orionids may travel at up to 41 miles per second.
Also, meteorites do not last long.
“Look for quick, short-lasting light streaks,” Nichols says. “Meteorites tend to last for a fraction of a second and perhaps a few seconds for longer-lived meteors.”
Nichols also points out that much of the material that falls to the Earth’s surface is “only the size of a grain of sand.” As such, the line that humans often see is not the meteorite itself, but rather “the superheated glowing air surrounding that piece of cometary material” as it descends toward Earth.
Dress for the occasion
Unless you live in the deep south, it’s likely to be cold outside in November. Dressing appropriately for the occasion means you’ll be able to stay outside longer, even if it’s cold.
“When you go out, dress warmly in several layers, even if it’s not very cold where you are,” Nichols says. “You’ll be there for a while, and at night, you might get cold easily, especially if it’s humid.”
Nichols advises bringing an extra chair to place your feet on to keep them away from the cold floor, especially if it is wet. He also advises not drinking alcohol, which causes blood vessels to dilate, which causes body contractions. Lose heat faster.
Patience is a virtue
The phrase “It’s a marathon, not a sprint” is a perfect fit for meteor viewing. Rainfall is unpredictable, and every number you see in this article or elsewhere online is basically an estimate. You’ll need to make sure you give yourself as much time as possible to settle down.
“Give your eyes at least 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark,” Nichols advises. “You may not see the meteors right away. When you do see them, they will be scattered.”
If meteors were easy to spot, they wouldn’t be anything special. You can help yourself by reducing your phone’s screen brightness to its lowest setting to preserve your night vision, and use flashlights, not large camping lanterns.