November 2026 Skywatching Information: Meteors, Planets, Stars and a Full Moon
Autumn is marching proper alongside, and so are the objects within the evening sky. November is the ultimate full month of fall, and with daylight saving time ending Nov. 1, the solar will set even earlier. That’ll give skygazers extra time to see some cool sights with out staying up horribly late or waking up unbearably early.
When to see every planet in November
Each planet is seen in the course of the month of November, although relying on the time and day, you’ll get a greater or worse view of them. Mercury and Venus are probably the most troublesome to see because of their proximity to the solar.
Mercury: Mercury was at its jap elongation throughout October, so it begins November a bit too near the solar to see safely. It reaches western elongation on Nov. 20, the place it’ll be simply seen simply earlier than dawn for the remainder of the month.
Venus: Venus begins the month simply forward of the solar at dawn, technically making it attainable to see each morning in November. It will get farther from the solar because the month goes on, making it simpler and safer to see towards the tip of the month.
Mars: Mars is excessive within the sky all month. It rises out of the jap horizon shortly after midnight at the beginning of November and rises earlier because the month progresses. Early morning is the most effective time to see it, or proper round midnight towards the tip of the month.
Jupiter: Jupiter and Mars are shut buddies for all of November, rising at roughly the identical time and proper subsequent to one another within the sky. The star Regulus joins in to type a trio, which is seen to the bare eye your complete month.
Saturn: Saturn can also be seen each evening in November. It’s within the jap sky when the solar units, and units on the western horizon shortly earlier than dawn. Proper after darkish is the most effective time to see it, however you’ll want binoculars or a telescope to seize its superb rings.
Neptune: Neptune and Saturn are teamed up for November, with each of them being very shut within the sky and following an identical trajectory. Convey binoculars or a telescope.
Uranus: Uranus is within the evening sky every single day in November, rising within the east shortly earlier than sundown and setting within the west proper round dawn. It reaches opposition on Nov. 25, which implies it’s as far-off from the solar as it will probably get, and would be the most seen. You’ll nonetheless wish to deliver some binoculars or a telescope for finest outcomes.
Nov. 2-3: The moon, Mars and Jupiter dance social gathering
The month begins with a meetup amongst Mars, Jupiter and the moon. The three will seem shut collectively within the evening sky, making them simple to identify: The moon is simple to seek out, and each planets are seen to the bare eye. On Nov. 2, the moon might be nearer to Mars, and the trio will observe each other throughout the sky all through the evening. Regulus can even be in tow and readily seen to the bare eye.
Nov. 3 continues the great vibes. The moon slides over to the opposite facet of Regulus on that evening, however all 4 celestial our bodies are nonetheless fairly shut collectively and simple to identify. Mars, Jupiter and Regulus will get even nearer to one another as November progresses, however the moon strikes even additional away after Nov. 3.
Nov. 4-5: Southern Taurids meteor bathe peaks
The Southern Taurids have technically been lively since Sept. 20, and proceed till Nov. 20. This long-running meteor bathe peaks in the course of the night of Nov. 4 and morning of Nov. 5. It’s not a very sturdy meteor bathe and may common about 5 meteors per hour. Nevertheless, it usually tosses vibrant fireballs, so what it lacks in amount, it makes up for in high quality.
The moon is 22% illuminated that evening, which the American Meteor Society calls “favorable circumstances” for viewing a meteor bathe. You wish to get as far-off from gentle air pollution as attainable to provide your self even higher odds, and ensure to decorate for the climate. The Southern Taurids will seem to originate from the Taurus constellation, which rises within the east shortly after sundown and strikes throughout the sky earlier than setting within the west proper earlier than dawn.
Nov. 9: One of the best evening for searching stars
It’s no secret that the complete moon is normally the most well-liked celestial occasion to occur each month, however skygazers additionally worth the brand new moon. It’s because the moon is a big supply of sunshine air pollution, making many stars and planets, equivalent to Uranus and Neptune, tougher to see. With the brand new moon on Nov. 9, it’ll be the darkest evening of November — and excellent for stargazing and night-sky images.
Nov. 9 additionally occurs to be Carl Sagan Day, an unofficial vacation to honor the visionary astronomer. When you’re caught inside that evening, you may at all times use the event to look at Sagan’s legendary Cosmos collection, which is obtainable without cost on the Web Archive or via numerous consumer uploads on YouTube.
Nov. 14-25: A four-planet alignment
A lot of the planets are seen within the evening sky nearly each evening in November, however on Nov. 14 there’ll be a enjoyable little planet parade. It’ll happen simply earlier than dawn, so it’s principally for early risers. Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter are set to line up properly, making them simple to identify. That is very true for Jupiter and Mars, which needs to be proper subsequent to one another that evening.
The present will begin round Nov. 14 and can final till round Nov. 25, relying in your location. The tough half is catching Mercury within the sky earlier than the solar comes up. It’s solely a few 30-minute window for the reason that solar intently follows Mercury up over the jap horizon. The only finest day to view it’s Nov. 20, when Mercury is at its western elongation — as removed from the solar as it will probably get.
Uranus can also be seen at the moment, bringing the variety of seen planets to 3. Saturn and Neptune are beneath the horizon. Uranus is on the opposite facet of the sky, nonetheless, so it’s not technically a part of the alignment.
Nov. 11-12: Northern Taurids peaks
When you miss the Southern Taurids, you solely have to attend every week to catch a glimpse of the Northern Taurids meteor bathe. That is one other long-lasting meteor bathe that began on Oct. 20 and runs till Dec. 10. It peaks on the night of Nov. 11 and the morning of Nov. 12. The American Meteor Society notes that the moon is simply 5% illuminated on Nov. 11, giving viewers even higher circumstances than in the course of the Southern Taurids.
It’s in any other case nearly similar to the Southern Taurids. The bathe seems to originate from the identical constellation, Taurus, which rises and units at nearly precisely the identical occasions because it did every week earlier. The Northern Taurids promise about 5 meteors per hour below optimum circumstances, with an elevated probability of fireballs. Each showers are even fueled by the identical comet, 2P/Encke. It’s the area equal of a sitcom rerun airing only one week later.
Nov. 16-17: Leonids peaks
Leonids is normally probably the most lively meteor bathe in November. It begins on Nov. 6 and runs till Nov. 30, making it shorter than each Taurids meteor showers. It peaks on the night of Nov. 16 and the morning of Nov. 17.
The excellent news is that the meteor bathe may be very simple to seek out. Meteors from it’s going to seem to originate from the Leo constellation, which is true subsequent to Mars and Jupiter, that are seen within the evening sky.
The unhealthy information is that this a part of the sky doesn’t rise till round midnight, making this a meteor bathe for evening owls. It ought to produce about 15 meteors per hour below optimum circumstances, although you may count on barely fewer as a result of the 41%-illuminated moon will create sufficient pure gentle air pollution to obscure fainter meteors.
The Leonids have produced distinctive meteor storms prior to now, with tons of of meteors per hour. That isn’t anticipated to occur in 2026, however the odds aren’t zero. They could enhance after the comet loops across the solar once more in 2031.
Nov. 23-24: Supermoon
A micro moon is noticeably smaller and fewer vibrant than a supermoon or perhaps a common full moon.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
November’s Beaver Moon takes place simply two days earlier than Thanksgiving. It is usually the primary of a string of 4 consecutive supermoons that may shut out 2026 and start 2027. This occurs when the moon is inside 90% of perigee — its closest level to Earth. The phenomenon makes the moon seem about 7% bigger than an everyday moon and 14% bigger than a minimoon — and noticeably brighter than each.
Per The Outdated Farmer’s Almanac, the Beaver Moon reaches its peak illumination on Nov. 24 at 9:53 a.m. ET, which is after dawn for most individuals within the US. Meaning the most effective time to see it’s both the evening earlier than (Nov. 23) or the night after (Nov. 24). The moon stays over 90% full from Nov. 22-27. When you plan on going skygazing, keep away from these days just like the plague, for the reason that moon creates a ton of sunshine air pollution.
Nov. 30: One other moon, Mars and Jupiter dance social gathering
It’s not usually that the identical occasion occurs twice in a single month, nevertheless it seems Jupiter, Mars and the moon simply can’t appear to get sufficient of one another. The trio closes out the month the identical approach it began: hanging out very shut collectively within the evening sky. And sure, Regulus will as soon as once more tag alongside.
Not like the prior meetup, this one solely lasts for one evening earlier than the moon dashes away. Since all 4 of them are seen with the bare eye and the moon remains to be principally full, folks shouldn’t have any bother discovering them. Eagle-eyed stargazers may even see Algieba close by as nicely. It’s the second brightest star within the Leo constellation (behind Regulus), and it’s additionally seen with out binoculars or a telescope.
All month: Constellations and asterisms
The constellations proceed their summer-to-winter shakeup. Outstanding constellations within the sky embody Taurus, Pegasus, Capricornus, Aquila, Pisces and Aries. Mainstays such because the Large Dipper and Little Dipper are nonetheless on the market, however could be troublesome to see should you dwell too far south. As a rule, we suggest utilizing a sky map or a instrument equivalent to Stellarium to pinpoint every object so you could find it.
There are additionally some lesser-known asterisms to hunt out, such because the Pleiades (the Seven Sisters), the Nice Sq. of Pegasus and the Circlet of Pisces. The Summer season Triangle remains to be seen, whereas the Winter Triangle turns into a lot simpler to identify because it rises above the horizon earlier within the night.
