The Taurid meteor showers peak a week apart in November

This 2014 image provided by NASA shows a Taurid fireball recorded at the NASA All Sky Fireball Network station in Tullahoma, Tenn. Two sister meteor showers are already flashing across night skies — and will peak a week apart.

This 2014 image provided by NASA shows a Taurid fireball recorded at the NASA All Sky Fireball Network station in Tullahoma, Tenn. Two sister meteor showers are already flashing across night skies — and will peak a week apart. (NASA via AP)


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WASHINGTON — Two sister meteor showers are already flashing across night skies — and will peak a week apart.

The Southern Taurids will reach their zenith early Tuesday morning. And the Northern Taurids the following week.

The two showers share similar names because, when seen in the night sky, they appear to originate from different points in the constellation Taurus. Their source is debris from comet Encke.

While the two Taurid showers only produce around five visible meteors per hour, they are often very bright fireballs under ideal conditions. Viewing of both showers will last into December.

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Christina Larson

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