Taurid meteor shower 2025 in Spain: a regional and practical guide to avoiding the full moon
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Updated: November 1, 2025
The 2025 Taurid meteor shower arrives in two acts: the southern radiant around November 5th and the northern radiant between November 9th and 12th . While not abundant in number, it is one of the most photogenic : slow meteors (around 27 km/s), long trails, and a real chance of fireballs that will brighten your night. This year, there's also talk of a possible swarm —a cluster of larger fragments—that could increase the frequency of these fireballs. It's a possibility, not a guarantee. The catch is the full moon on November 5th , which will wash over the sky right during the first peak. Even so, there's still a chance: understanding when the moon sets, choosing dark skies, and looking from the right angle makes all the difference.
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30-second summary (no smoke)
You have two useful viewing windows: November 5 (southern radiant) and November 9–12 (northern radiant). The 5th coincides with a full moon , so the sky will be "washed" and you'll miss faint meteors; however, the Taurids compensate with fireballs that cut through the moonlight. Between the 9th and 12th, the moon rises later each night, resulting in dark early hours . In Spain, you'll gain a lot if you go out to dark skies (Canary Islands, Gúdar-Javalambre, Gredos, Serranía Conquense, Sierra Morena) and if you look 45–60° away from the radiant in Taurus: the streaks appear longer and are easier to identify.
Dates, Moon and why the Taurids “work” even with brightness
The Taurids are not Perseids: their typical zenithal hourly rate is around 5 meteors per hour in truly dark skies. But their slow entry speed and the size of some fragments mean that very bright fireballs appear, especially when we're passing through a swarm . This possibility is being discussed for 2025; take it as an incentive to go outside, not as a guarantee. The full moon on November 5th will be a nuisance, yes, but its effect is asymmetrical : it sweeps up faint streaks, not so much the fireballs. Therefore, a reasonable strategy is to take advantage of the early morning of the 5th if you can block the moon with terrain or buildings, and save your energy for the early evening hours of November 9-12 , when the moon rises late and darkness returns.
How to read local lunar times (and gain darkness)
After the full moon, the moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day (it varies between 30 and 70 minutes). This shift creates a dark passage at the beginning of the night. The strategy is simple: check the moonrise/set times for your area (for example, on timeanddate.com ), and choose a period when the moon is low, behind a mountain, or still below the horizon. If you can only go out one night, prioritize between November 9th and 12th . If you have two nights, add the early morning of the 5th .
Canary Islands: La Palma and Tenerife
The Canary Islands are in a league of their own in terms of sky quality and altitude. The volcanic terrain is perfect for obscuring the Moon behind its relief, keeping the field of view clear. On windy nights, the seeing is weaker, but the meteors don't need perfectly clear stars to be impressive.
Recommended spots
- Tenerife : Llano de Ucanca and the vicinity of the Parador de Cañadas; high viewpoints of the Teide National Park.
- La Palma : Llano del Jable viewpoint and areas near Roque de los Muchachos (respect access and restrictions).
On the night of the 5th , assume a moonlit sky and focus on fireballs, blocking the moon with a rocky ridge. From the 9th to the 12th , the first part of the night becomes more important: settling in for darkness, preparing compositions with a wide horizon, and letting chance work its magic for at least an hour or two usually yields results.
Aragon: Gúdar-Javalambre (Teruel)
The Aragonese mountains are a Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination , with clear high plateaus and minimal light pollution. The combination of altitude , flat terrain , and low humidity on cold nights works very well with modest rainfall.
Recommended spots
- Heights between Valdelinares and Gúdar , slopes and open areas with a 360° horizon.
- Surroundings of the OAJ / Pico del Buitre (always outside restricted areas and with common sense).
On November 5th , go out to hunt for fireballs without expecting to count them. Between the 9th and 12th , plan 90–120 minute sessions at the beginning of the night: the Moon will take longer to rise, and you'll have usable sky to capture long streaks at 45–60° from the radiant.
Castile and León: Sierra de Gredos (Ávila)
Gredos, a Starlight Reserve , offers high viewpoints and sheltered valleys. The channeled winds in the mountain passes can be challenging; however, the clarity on cold nights is usually excellent. If you're coming from Madrid, remember that every kilometer west takes you further from the Starlight Reserve.
Recommended spots
- Gredos plateau and plains near Hoyos del Espino–Navarredonda .
- Puerto del Pico and viewpoints of the Iruelas Valley .
With a full moon on the 5th , look for natural barriers. On nights 9-12 , try compositions with silhouette relief: as the initial moonlight diminishes, the meteors will steal the scene without overexposing the frame.
Castilla-La Mancha: Serranía de Cuenca
The Serranía Conquense region is known for its exceptionally clear high plains and small villages with minimal emissions. It's one of those places where even a small extra journey makes a real difference in the darkness of the zenith.
Recommended spots
- Uña-Laguna and Las Majadas-Callejones surroundings for composition with landscape.
- Tragacete–Valdemeca–Beamud axis and NE moorlands of the capital for wide horizons.
At the 9-12 window, set up your tripod as soon as night falls and leave one camera shooting at intervals. If you're in a group, alternate fields of view to cover more of the sky. With the moon on the 5th, focus on patience and thinking like a wildlife photographer: fewer shots, but waiting for the right moment .
Andalusia: Sierra Morena (Jaén/Córdoba)
Sierra Morena is a Starlight Reserve and Destination with a network of designated sites. The profile of holm oaks and hills north of the Guadalquivir River allows for beautiful compositions of meteors streaking across a clear sky if you move just far enough away.
Recommended spots
- Andújar : viewpoints in the park (for example, Mingorramos).
- Cardeña-Montoro and areas of the Northern Countryside of Jaén .
The strategy is identical: accept the 5th as a night for meteors and bet heavily on the early hours of the 9th–12th . If you notice low haze, move a few kilometers; small changes in altitude clear the horizon.
Technique and photography: how to make the most of a modest rain
The key physics lies in not looking at the radiant, but rather at a 45–60° angle from it. This allows the meteors to travel across more of the sky above your field of view, creating seemingly longer trails that are easy to identify with the naked eye and also on camera. If possible, avoid direct light in your peripheral vision: just 20–30 minutes without screens is enough for your eyes to adapt and improve your sensitivity. In photography, a wide-angle lens (14–24 mm), a fast aperture ( f/2–f/2.8 ), ISO 1600–3200 , and exposures of 10–20 seconds are a solid foundation with the Moon; if the sky is darker, you can extend the exposure time a bit until the stars begin to elongate. Focus to infinity manually (do this with a bright star) and use an intervalometer to shoot continuously for 30–60 minutes. Always shoot in RAW. If you have two cameras, dedicate one to timelapse and the other to "hunting" shots swept by eye where you sense activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many meteors can I realistically expect?
Under very good conditions, you can expect around 5 meteors per hour on average. It's not a continuous spectacle, but the Taurids are notable for the quality of some events: slow, orange fireballs that leave a persistent trail. If there's a swarm , the number of fireballs increases; otherwise, you'll have a quiet night with the occasional bright spot.
Does the full moon on the 5th ruin the peak?
It doesn't ruin it, but it does reduce the number of faint meteors. The tactic is to block out the Moon's contours, look away from the radiant, and extend the viewing session to increase the chance of spotting a fireball.
Why does it improve between November 9th and 12th?
Because the moon rises later each day after the full moon (by about 50 minutes), the night begins with a dark initial section. This is precisely where the second act of the Taurid meteor shower, the North Radiant, comes in.
Where do they come from?
From the 2P/Encke comet complex. Over time, its material has dispersed into streams that Earth crosses every autumn, giving rise to two active radiants in Taurus.
Conclusion and next steps
The Taurid meteor shower is an exercise in intelligent patience : reading the moon, heading out to dark skies, and letting chance take its course. If you only have one night, aim for the period between November 9th and 12th . If you have another, try the early morning of the 5th . And if you're bringing a camera, take advantage of its strengths: long strokes, clean framing, and sustained exposures.
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Recommended readings and sources
To compare dates, context, and technique, review these authoritative references: