A meteor is caught as a blurred line in this eight-second exposure Aug. 12 of the Milky Way over Abilene State Park. Meteor showers tends to be most visible after midnight, which is when astronomers say stargazers have their best chance of seeing the Southern Taurid meteor stream when it reached peak activity Sunday.

The Southern Taurids will soon peak, but it may not be the best time to see the spectacular global event.

The meteor shower is active from Sept. 20 to Nov. 20, but it will be most active when it reaches its peak from the night of Tuesday, Nov. 4, to the early morning of Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to the American Meteor Society.

The shower will be peaking while the Northern Taurids and Orionids meteor showers are both active, and will begin to peak the night before the November supermoon peaks on Nov. 5.

When both the Northern and Southern Taurids meteor showers are active at the same time, it can lead to an increase in fireballs —brighter than normal meteors, according to the society.

When does the Southern Taurids meteor shower peak?

The meteor shower will begin to peak on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 4, into Wednesday, Nov. 5, according to the American Meteor Society.

Where can the Southern Taurids be seen?

The meteor shower is expected to be visible across the world except at the South Pole, according to Space.com.

Where should you face to see the Southern Taurids meteor shower?

The Southern Taurids meteor shower appears to originate from around the direction of the Taurus constellation, according to USA TODAY's previous reporting. But the shower will be visible from anywhere in the sky.

To look at the constellation, stargazers can look towards the east-northeast on the day the shower peaks, according to SkySafari Pro.

Apps like SkyView or SkySafari Pro could help stargazers and backyard astronomers spot the Taurus constellation.

The light from the supermoon, however, could impede a stargazer's view of the shower. November's moon is extra special because it will be a supermoon, meaning it will be around 30% brighter and up to 14% larger than normal, according to NASA.

More meteor showers in 2025

Some of the meteor showers that have already happened this year are Quadrantids (started in 2024 but peaked in January 2025), Lyrids, Eta Aquariids, and the Alpha Capricornids and Southern Delta Aquariids, according to the American Meteor Society website.

The American Meteor Society also states that there are several more happening this year, which, according to NASA and the Society, include the following:

  • Orionids- Thursday, Sept. 26 to Wednesday, Nov. 22; peaked the night of Wednesday, Oct. 22 into the morning of Thursday, Oct. 23. The moon was 2% full.
  • Southern Taurids- Monday, Oct. 13 to Thursday, Nov. 27; peaked on the night of Tuesday, Nov. 4 into the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 5. The moon was 96% full.
  • Northern Taurids- Monday, Oct. 13 to Monday, Dec. 1; peaks the night of Saturday, Nov. 8 into the morning of Sunday, Nov. 9. The moon will be 83% full.
  • Leonids- Monday, Nov. 3 to Tuesday, Dec. 2; peaks the night of Sunday, Nov. 16 into the morning of Monday, Nov. 17. On this night, the moon will be 9% full.
  • Geminids- Monday, Dec. 1 to Thursday, Dec. 21; peaks on the night of Thursday, Nov. 13 to the morning of Friday, Nov. 14. The moon will be 30% full.
  • Ursids- Tuesday, Dec. 16 to Friday, Dec. 26; Peaks on the night of Sunday, Dec. 21 to the morning of Monday, Dec. 22. The moon will be 3% full.

The Quadrantids will also begin in 2025 on Friday, Dec. 26, but the shower will not peak until Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, when the moon will be 100% full.

Which meteor showers will be the easiest to view this year?

Depending on the weather and cloud coverage, the showers that occur closer to the new moon will receive less interference from the moon's light, making them easier to see, Robert Lunsford, the American Meteor Society's newsletter editor and fireball report coordinator, previously told USA TODAY.

Of the six meteor showers that will reach their peak in 2025, the Leonids and Ursids will have the least amount of interference from the moon and possibly offer better views.

Do you need any equipment to see the Southern Taurids meteor shower?

No, onlookers will not need any equipment to see the meteor shower. In fact, you don't even need a telescope or binoculars, according to NASA.

A telescope can limit your view of the night sky. You want to ensure you have a clear view of the entire night sky, especially since multiple showers are occurring simultaneously, and a falling star can come from any direction.

If you do decide to try to watch the Southern Taurids meteor shower, make sure you do the following:

  • Check the weather and cloud coverage in your area to make sure conditions are optimal to view the meteor shower
  • Find a dark location away from light pollution
  • Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark
  • Avoid looking at phones or bright lights

To be as comfortable as possible, dress appropriately for the weather, use bug spray, and bring a blanket, a sleeping bag, or a reclining chair to lie on.

Contributing: Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: The Southern Taurids meteor shower peaks this week. But don't get too excited.

Reporting by Julia Gomez, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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