‘Double meteor showers’ set to send ‘fireballs’ through the air above Colorado

Two meteor showers sometimes described as ‘twins’ are currently taking place in the sky above, set to be visible from pretty much anywhere on Earth. While the first meteor shower peaked a couple days ago, the second peaks next week. That said, the best time to see the shows together in Colorado will likely be this weekend after the snow clouds subside.

The two meteor showers taking place are the Northern and Southern Taurids, according to the American Meteor Society. The Southern Taurids already peaked on the night of November 4 when the moon was only 11 percent full, set to continue through December 8. Meanwhile, the Northern Taurids will peak on the night of November 11 – next Monday – though a 79 percent illuminated moon on that night could make meteors a bit more difficult to see given the ambient light that creates. It’s also worth noting that the Taurids are known for their ‘flaming fireballs,’ consisting of debris from Comet Encke.

With that in mind, Saturday night might be the best night to see both meteor showers. While neither will be peaking at that time, the moon will be about 56 percent full. By that point, the current snowstorm should be over, too, and while some clouds may be present, full cloud cover isn’t expected.

Now, it is worth noting that the Taurids aren’t one of the more active meteor showers, producing about five shower members per hour during peak periods of activity. That said, if you happen to be outside at night and bundled up over the weekend, you might have a shot at spotting a shooting star.

Try to head somewhere without cloud cover that’s absent of city lights. Spotting a shooting star during this show won’t be a given, but there’s a chance. And once again, make sure you’re bundled up and prepared for freezing temperatures – nights can have a deadly chill at this point of the year in Colorado.

Find more information from the American Meteor Society here.