Best times and sightseeing tips

MAINE (WGME) – The Taurid meteor shower returns in November this year. There are two meteor showers: the Northern Taurids and the Southern Taurids.

The Southern Taurids peak reaches its first summit on November 4th-5th. Unfortunately, it was cloudy and raining in Maine during this time.

Fortunately, thanks to the phase of the moon, the Southern Taurids will likely be just as visible from November 5th to 9th.

The moon phase is a new moon from November 1st and becomes a quarter moon on November 9th.

To view the meteor shower, the greatest number of meteors can be seen around midnight, but they can also be seen throughout the night, especially during the darkest hours. The southern Taurids typically see 5 to 10 meteors per hour. Viewers should face east when viewing.

To find the darkest point in the sky, it's important to get away from the city lights and pollution. Also, be sure to arrive 30 minutes early to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Be sure to dress for the weather as temperatures begin to drop at night.

Tonight lows will drop into the 50s, so you may not need that heavy coat.

After the Southern Taurids, the Northern Taurids meteor shower peaks on November 11th and 12th.

Do you have questions about the weather? Email our Weather Authority team at [email protected]. We would love to hear from you!