Southern Taurids 2026: Peak Night 4–5 November With a Dark, Low Moon
Short answer
The Southern Taurids peak on the night of 4–5 November 2026, according to the American Meteor Society. The Moon is only about 18% lit, so skies will be much darker than for this year's Orionids.
If the bright Moon spoiled the Orionids for you, here's better news. The American Meteor Society (AMS) calendar lists the Southern Taurids as active from 20 September to 20 November, with a peak on the night of 4–5 November 2026. On that night the Moon is only about 18% lit.
What makes the Taurids special?
The Taurids are a slow, gentle shower. Rates are low, usually only a handful of meteors an hour. But the AMS notes they are known for the occasional bright fireball, a meteor brighter than the planets. The shower comes from dust left by Comet Encke, and the meteors seem to come from the constellation Taurus.
When to look
- Time of night: Taurus is up most of the night in early November, and around midnight it sits high in the sky. That makes the late evening and the hours after midnight good times to look.
- Dark sky: the low, thin Moon helps, but you still want to get away from street lights.
- Plan your night: check sunset and dawn for your city with the sunrise and sunset calculator.
Remember: clocks go back an hour on 1 November in most of Canada and the US, so evenings get dark earlier. That's handy for young skywatchers.
Easy tips
- Lie back on a blanket or reclining chair and look at a wide patch of sky.
- Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust to the dark, and keep phone screens dim.
- Be patient. With the Taurids, one bright fireball can make the whole night worth it.
- Kids should always skywatch with an adult, in a safe, familiar place.
Fun maths for kids
How many days from the Orionid peak (22 October) to the Taurid peak? Work it out with our date difference calculator, then read our Orionid guide and the Hunter's Moon guide to plan a full autumn of sky watching.
Updated 19 October 2026. Dates and Moon phase from the American Meteor Society; comet background from NASA.
