Northern Taurids Could Light Up Austin’s Skies This Week — Look for Slow, Bright Meteors

Northern Taurids May Put on a Show Over Austin

Central Texas skies, including over Austin, could offer a modest but potentially memorable display this week as the Northern Taurid meteor stream returns. Though the shower typically produces only a few meteors per hour, it is well known for occasional slow-moving fireballs that can briefly outshine the rest of the sky.

When to watch: The stream is active from late October through early December. The best viewing window this week is Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, when the shower’s radiant in Taurus climbs highest.

Where to look: No telescope is needed—lie back and scan the whole sky. For a ground reference, watch Orion rising in the east, then look up and slightly left toward Taurus and the Pleiades; that general area is the radiant (the apparent origin), though meteors can appear anywhere overhead. The important rule: avoid city lights to improve visibility.

What to expect: Rates are modest—around two meteors per hour—but Taurids move relatively slowly and have a reputation for producing bright fireballs even during low-rate years. The stream consists of debris shed by Comet Encke and related objects; occasional larger fragments are responsible for the brightest flares.

Sky and weather notes: The moon is in last-quarter phase this week; if possible, block it behind a tree or building to increase contrast. Forecasts call for clear, dry skies both nights — Tuesday night should be cool and calm, while Wednesday night looks a bit warmer with similar visibility.

Practical viewing tips

• Plan to observe from about midnight through the pre-dawn hours on Tuesday and again on Wednesday when Taurus is high overhead.
• Give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt to the dark before expecting to see fainter meteors.
• Bring a reclining chair or blanket, and dress in layers — it can get chilly while you wait.
• Turn your phone brightness down (or use a red filter) and avoid looking at screens to preserve night vision.
• Be patient and keep scanning—the brightest Taurids can appear unexpectedly.

With a little planning and a dark spot away from city glow, you could catch one of the Taurids’ famously slow, bright meteors. Happy skywatching.