November 2026 Skywatching Guide: Meteors, Planets, Stars and a Full Moon – CNET

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

Every planet is seen through 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 tough to see as a result of their proximity to the solar. 

Mercury: Mercury was at its japanese 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 potential 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 top of the month. 

Mars: Mars is excessive within the sky all month. It rises out of the japanese horizon shortly after midnight initially of November and rises earlier because the month progresses. Early morning is one of the best time to see it, or proper round midnight towards the top of the month. 

Jupiter: Jupiter and Mars are shut friends 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 kind a trio, which is seen to the bare eye the complete month.

Saturn: Saturn can also be seen each evening in November. It’s within the japanese sky when the solar units, and units on the western horizon shortly earlier than dawn. Right after darkish is one of the best time to see it, however you’ll want binoculars or a telescope to seize its wonderful 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. Bring binoculars or a telescope. 

Uranus: Uranus is within the evening sky daily 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 get together

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 straightforward 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 may also be in tow and readily seen to the bare eye.

Nov. 3 continues the nice vibes. The moon slides over to the opposite aspect of Regulus on that evening, however all 4 celestial our bodies are nonetheless fairly shut collectively and straightforward 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 energetic since Sept. 20, and proceed till Nov. 20. This long-running meteor bathe peaks through the night of Nov. 4 and morning of Nov. 5. It’s not a really robust meteor bathe and will common about 5 meteors per hour. However, it typically tosses brilliant 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 conditions” for viewing a meteor bathe. You wish to get as far-off from mild air pollution as potential 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: The finest evening for searching stars 

It’s no secret that the complete moon is normally the preferred celestial occasion to occur each month, however skygazers additionally worth the brand new moon. This is as a result of the moon is a big supply of sunshine air pollution, making many stars and planets, resembling 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 pictures. 

Nov. 9 additionally occurs to be Carl Sagan Day, an unofficial vacation to honor the visionary astronomer. If you’re caught inside that evening, you’ll be able to all the time use the event to look at Sagan’s legendary Cosmos sequence, which is accessible without cost on the Internet Archive or via numerous consumer uploads on YouTube.

Nov. 14-25: A four-planet alignment

Most 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. This is particularly 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 difficult half is catching Mercury within the sky earlier than the solar comes up. It’s solely a few 30-minute window because the solar intently follows Mercury up over the japanese horizon. The single 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 a few. Saturn and Neptune are under the horizon. Uranus is on the opposite aspect of the sky, nonetheless, so it’s not technically a part of the alignment.

Nov. 11-12: Northern Taurids peaks

If you miss the Southern Taurids, you solely have to attend per week to catch a glimpse of the Northern Taurids meteor bathe. This 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 barely 5% illuminated on Nov. 11, giving viewers even higher situations than through the Southern Taurids.

It is in any other case just about similar to the Southern Taurids. The bathe seems to originate from the identical constellation, Taurus, which rises and units at nearly precisely the identical instances because it did per week earlier. The Northern Taurids promise about 5 meteors per hour below optimum situations, with an elevated likelihood of fireballs. Both showers are even fueled by the identical comet, 2P/Encke. It’s the house equal of a sitcom rerun airing only one week later.

Nov. 16-17: Leonids peaks

Leonids is normally probably the most energetic 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 situations, although you’ll be able to count on barely fewer as a result of the 41%-illuminated moon will create sufficient pure mild air pollution to obscure fainter meteors.

The Leonids have produced distinctive meteor storms prior to now, with lots of of meteors per hour. That isn’t anticipated to occur in 2026, however the odds aren’t zero. They might enhance after the comet loops across the solar once more in 2031.

Nov. 23-24: Supermoon

November’s Beaver Moon takes place simply two days earlier than Thanksgiving. It can also be the primary of a string of 4 consecutive supermoons that can 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 a daily moon and 14% bigger than a minimoon — and noticeably brighter than each. 

Per The Old 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. That means one of the best 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. If you propose on going skygazing, keep away from these days just like the plague, because the moon creates a ton of sunshine air pollution. 

Nov. 30: Another moon, Mars and Jupiter dance get together

It’s not typically 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 method it began: hanging out very shut collectively within the evening sky. And sure, Regulus will as soon as once more tag alongside.

Unlike 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, individuals shouldn’t have any hassle discovering them. Eagle-eyed stargazers may even see Algieba close by as properly. 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. Prominent constellations within the sky embrace Taurus, Pegasus, Capricornus, Aquila, Pisces and Aries. Mainstays such because the Big Dipper and Little Dipper are nonetheless on the market, however could be tough to see in case you reside too far south. As a rule, we suggest utilizing a sky map or a instrument resembling Stellarium to pinpoint every object so yow will discover it.

There are additionally some lesser-known asterisms to hunt out, such because the Pleiades (the Seven Sisters), the Great Square of Pegasus and the Circlet of Pisces. The Summer 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.

Joe is a contract journalist. It all began with a long-running affection for constructing his personal PCs, which he did for the primary time as a teen. It developed right into a lifelong enjoyment of placing phrases on the web concerning the topic. He’s written for CNET, PCMag, Mashable and SlashGear as a contract author, and labored as a Senior Editor at Android Authority for 10 years. When he is not writing about tech and science, he is studying the ins and outs of DIY dwelling restore, gaming, taking part in his bass guitars and posting assistance on PC constructing and gaming subreddits. He is a staunch believer that orange juice ought to have pulp.

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