Southern Taurids 2026: peak night, meteors per hour and where to watch
The Southern Taurids are a long autumn shower from Comet Encke: few meteors, but slow and famous for bright fireballs, especially in 'swarm years'. Together with the Northern Taurids they are active from late September to December.
- Peak night
- 5–6 November
- ZHR
- up to 7 an hour
- Moon
- 12% — not in the way
- Active
- 20 September — 20 November
- Radiant
- Taurus · after midnight
- Best time over London
- around 00:31, radiant 54° up
- Under a dark sky
- ≈ 6 meteors an hour
- Speed
- 27 km/s
- Parent
- 2P/Encke
How to see a meteor shower, not three meteors
- 1
Get away from light pollution
The Dark Sky layer on the map shows where it is Bortle 4 or darker, with campsites nearby.
- 2
Wait until after midnight
The radiant climbs towards morning and Earth 'flies into' the dust: two to three times more meteors than in the evening.
- 3
Look away from the radiant
40–60° from the radiant meteors are longer. Lie down, keep warm, give your eyes 20 minutes without a phone.
Southern Taurids FAQ
When do the Southern Taurids peak in 2026?
On the night of 5–6 November; over London the best time is around 00:31, when the radiant in Taurus is 54° up.
How many meteors will I see?
The shower ZHR is 7; over London under a dark sky about 6 an hour, in a city just a few.
Will the Moon get in the way?
No: the Moon is 12% lit and out of the way at the best hours.
Other meteor showers of 2026
Quadrantids · 3–4 JanuaryLyrids · 22–23 AprilEta Aquariids · 5–6 MaySouthern Delta Aquariids · 31 July — 1 AugustAlpha Capricornids · 31 July — 1 AugustPerseids · 12–13 AugustDraconids · 8–9 OctoberOrionids · 21–22 OctoberNorthern Taurids · 12–13 NovemberLeonids · 17–18 NovemberDecember Monocerotids · 8–9 DecemberSigma Hydrids · 8–9 DecemberGeminids · 14–15 DecemberUrsids · 22–23 DecemberMeteor showers 2026 →