Long-Lasting Taurid Meteors Possible November 11 Over East Texas

I was today years old when I learned that there are 113 annual meteor showers. Some of the better-known include the Perseids, Geminids, and Leonids. One of those 113 is the Taurids meteor shower. It's not one of the more popular 'shooting star' events, mainly because it only produces a handful of meteors every hour. But anyone watching the night sky on November 11, 2026, could see stunning celestial bodies streak across the sky.

What Makes The Taurid Meteors So Amazing?

They're slow-moving, so they can appear as larger explosions of color and light that last longer than the average shooting star. Many meteors streaking across the sky are there and gone in the time it takes to blink. But Taurid meteors can last 2-3 seconds, or more, which is a long time, comparatively.

By the way, when I say these are slow-moving, it doesn't mean these fireballs are crawling across the sky at a sloth's pace. They are traveling around 18 miles per second, which is about 65,000 mph. But when it comes to meteors, that's kind of slow.

Best Way To View The Taurid Meteor Shower

This annual shower actually lasts for over a month in October and November, but the night of November 11 is considered prime viewing due to the waxing crescent moon phase that night. The moon should only be producing 5% illumination, so the night sky should be quite dark. Experts say you should try watching away from any light sources and spend at least 15 minutes looking at the sky to allow your eyes to get acclimated to the dark, and DON'T LOOK AT YOUR PHONE! You'll just have to take more time to get your eyes adjusted.