Northern and Southern Taurid Meteor Showers Set for November 2026 Peaks

The Northern and Southern Taurid meteor showers are expected to reach their peaks in early and mid-November 2026. Estimates put the Northern peak around November 4–5 and the Southern peak around November 11–12.

Key details

• Each shower has an estimated ideal rate of about five meteors per hour, though observers may see fewer.
• The Taurid radiant lies in Taurus, near the Pleiades; meteors can appear across a broad area of sky.
• The 2026 new moon falls on November 9, with a young crescent expected near the shower peaks and set during the evening.
• Taurid meteoroids enter Earth's atmosphere at about 29 kilometers per second.
• The Taurid streams are associated with the Taurid Meteoroid Complex and Comet 2P/Encke, which has an orbital period of about 3.25 years.
• Taurid meteors can occasionally produce bright fireballs.

Each Taurid shower may produce about five meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions.

Why it matters

For US skywatchers, the two peak periods offer separate chances to look for Taurid meteors. The moon's expected evening setting could leave darker skies later at night, while the shower's modest estimated rate favors patient viewing across a wide section of sky.

What happens next

The November peaks give observers two dates to plan around, with the evening crescent expected to set before later-night viewing. Which Taurid peak will you try to watch?