Maybe you've heard of the Taurids, or perhaps the phrase "Halloween fireballs" sounds more familiar to you. Or maybe you've never heard of either one, and that's exactly why we're here. This November, a wonderful celestial phenomenon is about to happen. They're called the Taurids, but they're also nicknamed "Halloween fireballs." And here's the good news: it will be visible from the Île-de-France region.
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A first peak next week
We recommend being particularly vigilant between November 5th and 12th and above all, keep your eyes on the sky. If you thought that shooting stars only happened in summer, think again—they also appear in autumn, proof right here! These shooting stars, or Taurids, will reach their first peak during the night of November 4th to 5th and then during the night of November 11th to 12th. And in the region, it's quite possible to spot some from Montmartre hill or Mont Valérien.
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The Taurids, a future threat?
These Taurids come from the Taurus constellation and more specifically from debris left behind by Encke's comet. Rocky debris become meteors, commonly called "shooting stars" when they travel through Earth's atmosphere. While this phenomenon occurs throughout autumn, even starting in September, it's around Halloween that they're particularly visible.
A study published in Acta Astronautica warned about the potentially dangerous nature of these Taurids between 2032 and 2036, with debris much larger than those usually observed, which could reach Earth.
Heads up, skywatchers: the Taurid Meteor Shower is active now through December 10! 🔭 With peak nights on November 4–5 and 11–12, this year could bring a rare “fireball swarm”. These would be extra-bright meteors from two overlapping streams, the Northern and Southern Taurids. Just look up from dark skies, and you could catch dazzling fireballs lighting up the night.
— Museum of Science (@museumofscience) October 26, 2025