Chance to see Taurids meteor shower light up the sky tonight

The Taurid meteor shower consists of two streams: the Southern Taurid and the Northern Taurid. Both streams radiate from the constellation Taurus the Bull, not far from the stars Aldebaran and the Pleiades. The best time to see the Taurid meteor shower and fireballs is around midnight on November 4.

This is one of the most notable meteor showers of the year, with the outstanding feature of large, slow-moving fireballs across the sky. The night sky will become more magical than ever when these streaks of light appear.

This year's Taurids meteor shower will peak on November 5. For Vietnam time zone, the best viewing time will be on the night of November 4 and early morning of November 5.

In 2024, conditions for observing the Taurids meteor shower are considered more favorable, because the Moon will only reach about 15% brightness during the meteor shower. This will help increase the possibility of seeing bright meteors in the sky.

The Taurids meteor shower, which occurs annually from September to December, is famous for its impressive fireball output. Not only are these fireballs large and bright, but they also move slowly enough to be seen in their entirety.

However, one factor that can interfere with viewing is the first quarter moon of the month, which can partially obscure the meteors at their peak, especially the smallest and faintest ones.

For the best views, observers should find a dark location away from city lights and begin watching just after midnight. Although the meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, they can appear anywhere in the sky.

In addition to the Taurids meteor shower, astronomy lovers can also look forward to the Leonids meteor shower, which takes place from around November 6 to November 30, and may peak on the night of November 17 and early morning of November 18.

Unlike the Taurids, the Leonids can produce up to 15 meteors per hour, promising an equally impressive show.

Meteor showers are not uncommon. However, the Taurids meteor shower is unique because of its "Halloween fireballs" - larger than normal fireballs that are of particular interest to astronomers.

The source of the Taurids’ fireballs is Comet Encke, a giant comet with a nucleus estimated to be about 15 feet (4.8 meters) across. When fragments of the comet burn up in Earth’s atmosphere, they create bright meteors that typically burn out just 40 miles (66 kilometers) above the ground. In contrast, some other showers, such as the Orionids, burn out at an altitude of about 59 miles (93 kilometers).