Look Up! The Taurid Meteor Shower Peaks Next Week—Here's How and When to See It

Fall has already given stargazers a handful of exciting celestial events, including an impressive meteor shower and a beautiful full moon. Next up is the Taurid meteors, which are slated to peak next week, according to EarthSky.org.

The Taurids rain down in two streams—the South Taurids and North Taurids. While both streams are currently active and run from September to November, they won't be noticeable until next week. The South Taurids are the first to dazzle stargazers, peaking on Monday, November 6. The North Taurids won't peak until Monday, November 13.

The shooting stars come from Comet Encke. The dust from the comet hits earth’s atmosphere at 65,000 mph and burns up, creating the Taurid meteor shower, according to NASA. Typically, the shower is weak, and only a few Taurid meteors can be seen by stargazers each night. 

Although the Taurid meteors are infrequent, they are long-lasting. The shower can be seen any time the constellation Taurus is above the horizon during the months of September, October, and November, according to NASA.

The best time to watch the Taurids is after midnight, when Taurus is high in the sky. For optimal viewing, head to a dark location away from city lights and pollution. Give your eyes about 30 minutes to adjust to the dark—then watch the Taurids fly.