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By Amanda Greenwood
Associate News Editor
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Stargazers across the United States could catch bright meteor showers streaking across the sky this week as the Northern Taurids reach their annual peak.
The Northern Taurids are active from October 20 through December 10 this year, but the shower is expected to be at its strongest overnight on November 11-12, according to the American Meteor Society.
Viewing conditions could be particularly good this year because the moon will only be about 4 percent illuminated, meaning there will be less moonlight to drown out the meteors.
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The weather, therefore, will be one of the biggest factors determining who gets the best view.
Forecasts from the National Weather Service (NWS) suggest that parts of the Southwest and central Plains could be among the better places to watch. However, it’s worth noting that the forecast could change before Wednesday night, and conditions can vary dramatically within individual states.
In Arizona, the NWS forecast for the Scottsdale area calls for clear skies Wednesday night, while Albuquerque in New Mexico is also forecast to have clear skies.
Kansas is also looking promising. The forecast for Stafford calls for mostly clear skies Wednesday night, while the Wichita-area forecast is also “mostly clear.” In Nebraska, conditions may be slightly less ideal, with the forecast around Spencer calling for partly cloudy skies.
Around Chicago, Illinois, the NWS is predicting a “chance of rain” on Wednesday night. The outlook is less favorable in the Pacific Northwest, where the NWS said a series of North Pacific storms would bring periods of rain, gusty winds and mountain snow into the week.
Parts of the Northeast may fare better, though. Boston, Massachusetts, for example, is currently forecast to have partly cloudy skies on Wednesday night after a sunny Veterans Day.
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What Is the Taurid Meteor Shower?
Meteor showers happen when Earth travels through streams of tiny material left behind by objects moving around the Sun.
Every year, Earth passes through a large trail of dust and small pieces of rock left behind by Comet Encke. When this material enters Earth’s atmosphere, it burns up and creates the streaks of light known as the Taurid meteor shower.
Put simply, the "shooting stars" that are seen during a meteor shower aren’t stars falling from the sky. They’re flashes or streaks of light that are created when small pieces of space debris enter Earth’s atmosphere. Most are so small that they completely disappear before reaching the ground.
The Taurids are actually divided into two related showers, the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids. This year, the Southern Taurids peaked around November 4-5, while the Northern Taurids are due to peak around November 11-12.
Unlike some showers that produce large numbers of meteors, the Taurids are relatively slow. NASA says that, during its peak, the 2026 Northern Taurids are expected to produce only around five meteors per hour. However, they can sometimes produce unusually bright meteors known as fireballs, making even a relatively quiet night worth watching. NASA’s Meteoroid Office Lead, Bill Cooke, said: “Individuals should not be surprised if they see a bright meteor or fireball over the next few nights.”
Newsweek has contacted Cooke for comment.
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How To See the Taurids
No telescope or specialist equipment is needed to see the Taurids.
NASA advises going somewhere dark and away from artificial lights, giving yourself around 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, and looking across as much of the sky as possible.
Although Taurid meteors might look like they come from where the Taurus constellation is, they can appear across the whole of the night sky, so viewers don’t need to stare directly at Taurus to see them. NASA has previously said that the best time to look for the Taurids is after midnight, when Taurus is high in the sky, and conditions are usually, with any luck, darker and clearer.
For viewers deciding whether to head outside on November 11, the simplest rule is: the darker and clearer the sky, the better.
Based on current forecasts, Arizona, New Mexico and Kansas stand out among the more favorable areas, while cloud and rain could hinder the display in parts of the Pacific Northwest and Midwest. Because local cloud cover can change quickly, viewers should check their latest local forecast before heading out.
Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Cristina Diciu.
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