Wyoming’s November Sky Spectacle: Four Meteor Showers to Light Up the Night
Throughout November, Wyoming’s night skies will be alive with the streaks of four active meteor showers, making this month a prime time for stargazers, Cowboy State Daily reports.
Meteors and fireballs will grace the skies as the Orionids, Leonids, and the Northern and Southern Taurids each reach their peak, creating a month-long celestial event.
“There are four active meteor showers, which makes it kind of exciting if you’re out there observing… You’ll see meteors crisscrossing the sky in an unusual way. You’ll kind of feel bombarded at this time of year,” said Max Gilbraith, planetarium coordinator for the University of Wyoming.
The four showers bring variety, with each meteor shower named for the constellation where its meteors appear to originate, or “radiant.” For instance, the Orionids radiate from the Orion constellation, while the Leonids come from Leo. Each has its unique timing, peak rates, and brightness levels, promising an array of viewing experiences for those willing to look up and enjoy.
The Orionids are already active, spanning from late September through November 22, with a peak that passed in October. Associated with Halley’s Comet, the Orionids’ annual display is a favorite among sky watchers, though its peak has now waned.
The Southern Taurids, meanwhile, are currently reaching their peak and are active through December 8. Known for producing especially bright fireballs, these meteors can appear across a wide area of the sky, though their numbers are relatively low, with about five meteors per hour during their peak.
The Northern Taurids follow suit, with a peak expected around November 11-12. Like the Southern Taurids, they often produce fireballs, though a full supermoon near their peak may limit visibility.
Finally, the Leonids will take center stage from November 16-17, though they too will contend with the brightness of a nearly full “Beaver Moon” on November 15, one of 2024’s last supermoons.
“The peaks of the Northern Taurids and the Leonids correspond with the full moon this year, pretty much exactly,” Gilbraith noted.
For the best views, stargazers should consider going out early in the morning or later in the month, when the moonlight will be less intense. Despite the supermoon, Wyomingites can still catch the showers at their best by timing their outings strategically and choosing areas with minimal light pollution.
“You could go out any night and enjoy an excellent meteor shower or see a few meteors at any given hour,” Gilbraith said.
highlighting that each of the four showers has a zenithal hourly rate of around four to 10 meteors. The darker the setting, the higher the chances of spotting these meteors.
The mix of four meteor showers makes November a rare opportunity for sky watchers.
“There’s an abundance of individual showers happening at this moment… They might only bring a handful of meteors per hour, and a couple coincide with full moons, but each radiates from different points in the sky,” Gilbraith shared.
For Wyomingites, who enjoy some of the nation’s clearest night skies, November offers a unique tapestry of celestial sights, with meteors streaking in all directions. Gilbraith encourages residents to take advantage of this convergence of meteor showers, whether it’s for a single evening or throughout the month.
