The vast cosmos can sometimes resemble a grand circus with three simultaneous performances. While we may not witness the thrilling spectacle firsthand – exploding asteroids, comets, and the endless shower of debris they leave behind, like a procession of Roman warriors marching towards infinity – everything is there, dancing around in space.
Sometimes, these unseen cosmic wonders extend into our perceptible Earthly domain: we may witness comets shimmering in the night sky like fireworks, or – as happens every November – that parade suddenly appearing in town. Meteors streak across our sky.
The autumn meteor season has begun and is about to intensify. The meteor shower known as the Orionids has already peaked and will continue to sprinkle throughout November. When the Orionids occur, two other meteor showers will overlap with them, forming a cosmic circus. Meteors seem to shoot in all directions. It may be difficult to discern which shower is which.
Meteors are named based on the constellations they appear to originate from in space. The Orionids are so named because their radiant point appears to be in Orion. Expected to join this celestial feast are the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids, named after their radiant points in Taurus.
Adding to the complexity, a fourth meteor shower will follow shortly: the Leonids. Their radiance emanates from Leo.
Despite all this seeming chaos, there is order in the madness. Astronomers believe they can predict when meteor showers will peak to some extent. However, outer space is like a jungle. Meteors are notoriously unpredictable.
Should things progress as astronomers say, the Southern Taurids and the Northern Taurids will overlap in the first few days of November. The Southern Taurids are expected to peak on November 5, while the Northern Taurids will peak on November 12. Each shower produces about 5 visible meteors per hour, so when the two showers converge, we may see up to 10 meteors per hour.
Overall, we can expect two meteor showers around October 20 to December 10, although this is not guaranteed.
Spotting meteors is no easy task, despite some scientific basis to help. November 9 is the first quarter moon, meaning the early November sky is quite dark, ideal for observing meteors. On the flip side, know where not to look.
Do not expect to find meteors by staring at Taurus, where the radiant point is located. From that direction, meteors come straight at you, so you won’t see a noticeable comet tail. They will present a clearer target when flying outward from the radiant point. They can appear anywhere in the sky, so sit back in a lawn chair and enjoy the vast night sky as much as possible.
In conclusion, the ideal time to capture this cosmic feast is early November when the Northern Taurids and Southern Taurids overlap. They will join the Orionids, and soon after, the Leonids. The dark sky will enhance this spectacle, thanks to the dim first quarter moon. We expect up to 10 meteors per hour, so bring your wish list!
The original article, “Crisscrossing Meteor Showers Will Peak in November, Creating a Cosmic Circus—Here’s the Lowdown,” was published on the English version of the Epoch Times website.