Fireballs may be visible in Edmonton as meteor shower peaks tonight

We may be in store for a bit of a light show, and we’re not talking about the aurora borealis. The first portion of a two-part meteor shower is set to peak tonight.

The Southern Taurids are expected to reach peak activity Thursday, November 4, into the early hours of Friday, November 5, according to the American Meteor Society (AMS).

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You should be able to see about four meteors each hour no matter your location, according to the AMS.

The forecast for Edmonton may be less than ideal for our viewing pleasure, but there is still a chance to see some fireballs.

According to Environment Canada, it’s set to be cloudy this evening with a slight chance of showers, transitioning to a mix of sun and cloud as we move into Friday. So maybe the cloud cover will break up a bit early Friday morning as we reach the peak of the meteor shower? We can only hope.

Environment Canada

The moon is also giving us a bit of a break, being 0% full during the peak of the Southern Taurids.

“The Taurids (both branches) are rich in fireballs and are often responsible for increased numbers of fireball reports from September through November,” said the AMS.

The second of the two showers, the Northern Taurids, is set to peak later this month around November 11 and 12. Mark your calendars!