Ever wished you could see a shooting star? Well, watching a meteor shower comes pretty close. This weekend a meteor shower known as Taurids will be gracing our night sky and promises to be a stunning display.
Taurids has actually been active since October but will reach its peak over the next few days, meaning that this will be your best chance to admire it in all its cosmic glory. Here’s everything you need to know.
What is the Taurids meteor shower?
Greenwich Royal Observatory describes this shower as ‘slow and long-lasting’. As with any other meteor shower, it happens when the Earth travels through a cloud of debris left from a comet, which burns up as it enters the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Taurid shower is caused by pieces left behind by a comet called Comet Encke – which orbits the sun every three years. It’s a slower shower because the comet stream is more spread out.
How can I watch the Taurids meteor shower in the UK?
Make sure that you find a spot with a clear view of the horizon with minimal light pollution. No need for any fancy equipment: if conditions are right you should be able to see the display with the naked eye.
What’s the best time to see it?
To get the most impressive view, your best bet is to look up to the sky at midnight between November 12 and 13, which is when the shower peaks. However you might be able to catch a glimpse on other nights until it finishes on December 10.
When’s the next visible meteor shower?
If you miss your chance this time round, not to worry. The next visible meteor shower, named Leonids, will shortly follow and peak on November 17-18.
Time Out-er space
Time Out is here to give you everything you need to know to catch a glimpse of some stunning astronomical events. Over the past few months we covered the Orionid meteor shower, this once-in-a-lifetime comet, a rare blue supermoon and the stunning double whammy of the Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornids showers. Stay tuned for many more magical displays to come!
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