The Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks the night of Wednesday, November 11 to Thursday, November 12, 2026, and the moon will be only about 7 percent lit. That means dark skies over Scott Valley for a shower known less for numbers than for the occasional slow, bright fireball.
When do the Northern Taurids peak in 2026?
The American Meteor Society lists the peak for the night of November 11 to 12, with the shower active from October 20 to December 10. Expect only about five meteors an hour at best, even under a dark sky. The appeal is quality, not quantity: Taurids are slow, and a few each season flare into fireballs bright enough to light the ground.
Sunset in Etna is about 4:55 PM, and the sky is fully dark by about 6:30. The Taurid radiant in Taurus climbs through the evening, so the hours from late evening past midnight are a good window.
Where should you watch from?
Watch from where you're staying. The point of a dark-sky town is that you don't need to go anywhere: turn off the porch lights, step outside and look up. Please don't drive to remote spots at night to chase meteors, especially in November, when deer are on the roads and mountain passes can ice over without warning.
At Blossom, the lawn and the walled garden are the spots, with the mountains framing the sky on every side.
What should you know before you go out?
Give your eyes 20 minutes. Put your phone away, or use a red light, so your night vision can build.
Dress for cold. Clear November nights in Scott Valley often drop below freezing. Bring a blanket, a warm hat and something to lie back on.
Look wide. Meteors appear anywhere in the sky. Lie back and take in as much sky as you can.
Be patient. With a handful an hour, you may wait a while. One fireball makes the whole night.
Kids: a fireball hunt from a blanket is a good way to introduce children to the night sky.
Next up: the Leonids peak a few nights later. See our Leonids 2026 guide.
Stay under dark skies
See every sky event and more on our full events calendar.
Blossom Sanctuary is a private retreat house in Etna for up to four adults or a family of up to six, solo travelers and couples especially. Hot drinks are complimentary, so you can warm up after a night on the lawn. See open dates and prices.
