Slow, bright fireballs spread across late autumn.
Peak rate
~5 meteors/hr at peak
Active
23 Sep – 2 Dec
Radiant
Taurus
Speed
28 km/s
Parent body
Comet 2P/Encke
Moon at peak
Peak-night moon only 14% lit — dark skies favour the shower
The Taurids never deliver high numbers — only about five an hour — but they punch above their weight for spectacle. Their slow, 28 km/s meteors include a high proportion of brilliant fireballs, earning late October and November a reputation for unexpectedly bright displays.
The stream comes in two overlapping branches, Southern and Northern, both linked to Comet Encke, and stays active for weeks rather than peaking sharply.