The Taurids meteor shower will fly across Australian skies on Monday night, into the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The shower will occur over a few weeks, but will reach its peak this evening.
The Taurids are known for producing bright, slow-moving fireballs in a long-lasting meteor shower.
Here’s what you need to know about watching the Taurid meteor shower.
What is the Taurids Meteor Shower and what can I expect?
From September to November, the Southern Hemisphere is the scene of the Taurids meteor showers.
There is also one in the Northern Hemisphere, active from October to December, and will peak next week, November 12.
Southern Tauris will peak Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
The Taurids are luminous fireballs. They are different from normal meteors in that they are brighter and much larger, some more than a meter across.
While you may not see as many meteors as other showers, the ones you do see will generally last longer, making them a photographer’s dream.
Southern Tauris is caused by comet Encke, which orbits the sun and leaves behind a stream of debris, which turns into incredible fireballs.
Encke was once part of a larger comet that disintegrated 20,000 years ago.
Under dark skies with little or no moon, you might expect to see about five meteors per hour.
When and how can I watch the Taurids?
The Taurids meteor shower will be most intense in our skies Monday evening and early Tuesday morning.
The good news is that it will also be visible in all Australian states and territories.
If you can stay awake, you’ll get the best views from 1am to 3am on Tuesday. But if it’s past your bedtime, you might also be able to see some meteors starting at 9 p.m.
Monday night the moon will be a thin crescent, making for darker skies and better visibility.
To make meteor viewing easier, try to find a spot with a clear view of the sky, ideally away from bright lights or the city.