This week, don't miss the Taurid meteor shower peak with its colorful fireballs and shooting stars

If you happen to be outside during the nighttime hours in the next week or so and happen to catch a glimpse of a bright and colorful “shooting star,” you may have just spotted a Taurid meteor. This annual meteor show occurs like clockwork between mid-October and mid-November every year, but November 5-12 is the best time to look for them when they reach a broad maximum.

During this period, around 8 to 12 meteors per hour can be observed under dark skies. Most meteor showers are strongest after midnight because their emitters (apparent points of origin) are highest just before sunrise. The Taurid meteor shower is an unusual case in which radiation peaks shortly after midnight, allowing the shower to be observed throughout the night.