What time is the meteor shower today? When will Taurids peak in the UK in 2023?

The Taurid meteor shower will peak this evening, lighting up the skies over Britain – at least in areas not covered by clouds.

This slow, long-lasting meteor shower occurs every year from late October to November, and although it is not one of the most spectacular showers in the Northern Hemisphere, up to five meteors per hour can still be seen on a clear night.

Here’s everything you need to know to watch it.

What is the Taurid meteor shower?

Meteor showers occur when the Earth passes through a cloud of debris from a comet. In this case, the Taurid meteor shower is caused by the Earth breaking through the debris left behind by Comet Encke.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory explains: “The stream of comets is very dispersed and scattered, and so the Earth takes a relatively long time to pass through it.”

For the same reason, we see two separate segments of the shower: the Southern Taurids (visible in the Southern Hemisphere from September 10 to November 20 this year) and the Northern Taurids (visible from October 20 to December 10 in the Northern Hemisphere).

“The Northern and Southern Taurids are two fragments of the same debris cloud and have the same density, so the peaks are approximately the same,” the observatory says.

If you trace the path of meteors, it turns out that they arrive from some point in the constellation Taurus, which is why they got their name.

When can I see the Taurids?

The top of the Northern Tauris. Sunday, November 12 and Monday, November 13.. The meteors will be very slow-moving, meaning they will be fairly easy to see on a clear night, but there will usually be fewer than five per hour.

The best time to see them is when the night sky is darkest, which is after sunset and before sunrise.

In London, the sun sets at 4:15 pm on Sunday and rises at 7:14 am on Monday. In the UK, times are slightly different. Here you can find the sunrise and sunset times in your area.

What’s the best way to see meteors?

Meteor showers are best observed with a good, clear view of the stars on a cloudless night.

The Royal Greenwich Observatory advises: “Try to find a location with dark skies, a clear horizon and very little light pollution. The Taurids aren’t particularly dramatic – take this opportunity to check out the night sky. You might catch a lucky shooting star there too.

“Make sure there are no direct light sources in your eyes so you can fully adapt to local conditions and ensure fainter meteors are visible.” There is no advantage to using binoculars or a telescope; Just look up with your eyes to enjoy the best view of the sky possible.

“Meteorite hunting, like all other astronomy, is a waiting game. Therefore, it is best to bring a comfortable chair to sit on and dress warmly, since you may be outside for some time. They can be seen with the naked eye, so you won’t need binoculars or a telescope, but you will have to get used to the darkness.”