Taurids and Leonids meteor showers to light up Swiss skies this November
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By Jan de Boer
Over the next two weeks, people across Switzerland will be given a chance to catch a glimpse of two spectacular meteor showers, with the Taurids and the Leonids set to peak in the night sky in mid-November. Here’s how to watch the stunning natural phenomena from Swiss cities and cantons.
When to see the northern Taurids Meteor shower in Switzerland
First, the Northern Taurids (or Taurid) meteor shower is set to peak in the skies above Switzerland around November 11-12, 2026. The Taurid shower is caused by the debris left in the wake of Encke’s Comet, which travels around the Earth every autumn.
The shower itself is quite slow-moving and very bright, meaning stargazers have more of a chance of seeing the meteors as they cross the night sky. While present in the night sky from November 1 to 15, the best time to see them is at their peak around midnight on November 11 or 12. Up to five meteors are expected each hour, with most emerging near the right-hand prong of the Taurus constellation.
When to See the Leonids Meteor shower peak
If five meteors an hour is not enough, you are in luck as the next meteor shower set to arrive in Switzerland, the Leonids, promises to be even more spectacular when it peaks at between November 17-18. This meteor shower is associated with Comet 55P, also known as the Tempel-Tuttle, and gets its name from the Leo constellation.
Up to 15 meteors an hour, visible to the naked eye, are expected to cross the night sky between sunset on November 17 and sunrise on November 18 - the best conditions should be late at night.
Top tips & best Swiss locations for stargazing
On the nights, be sure to try and find a place with as little natural and human-made light pollution as possible, such as outside cities and on hills, clearings in woodland, or on top of mountains.
During the Taurids peak (Nov 11-12), there will only be a thin waxing crescent moon, and during the Leonids peak (Nov 17-18), the waxing half moon will set before midnight, leaving the early morning sky incredibly dark for optimal viewing.
Be sure to give your eyes ample time to adjust to the low light conditions, and let's hope the weather in Switzerland doesn't interrupt two of the most spectacular meteor showers our solar system has to offer.
Jan studied History at the University of York and Broadcast Journalism at the University of Sheffield. Though born in York, Jan has lived most of his life in Zurich and has worked as a journalist, writer and editor since 2016.
While he has plunged head-first back into life in Switzerland since returning to the country in 2020, he still enjoys a taste of home at pub quizzes and karaoke nights.Read more