November Night Skies Bring Meteor Showers and Planetary Alignments
November 2026 brings a busy calendar of astronomical events to the night sky, featuring multiple meteor showers, planetary conjunctions, and a supermoon, Spatial Highlights reported. Observers across the globe can track these occurrences throughout the month, with several highlights visible without specialized equipment.
Kompas.com noted that events such as the Taurid meteor showers and the Leonid peak occur annually, offering prime viewing opportunities for backyard astronomers. CNN Indonesia added that dark locations away from city lights provide the clearest view of these celestial passages.
Early November Opens With Taurid Fireballs
The month begins with the Taurid meteor stream, split into Southern and Northern components. Sortir à Paris explained that the Southern Taurids run from September through late November, while the Northern Taurids span from late October to early December. Because these slow-moving meteors frequently produce bright bolides, Anglo-Saxon astronomers dubbed them Halloween fireballs
due to their proximity to October 31, according to Sortir à Paris.
It’s OFFICIAL: 4 major celestial events will converge on August 12 — a 6-planet alignment, partial solar eclipse, dark new moon, & a massive meteor shower. pic.twitter.com/xVCVbr0UEx
Spatial Highlights stated that the Southern Taurids reach their peak on the night of November 4 through the early hours of November 5, yielding roughly five to ten meteors per hour. BeritaSatu.com added that the International Meteor Organization and the American Meteor Society estimate this zenith hourly rate under ideal dark-sky conditions, though actual counts seen by observers on the ground are often lower. Kompas.com reported a second peak for the Taurid stream occurring between November 11 and 12.
Planetary Alignments and Elongations Later in the Month
Mid-month shifts focus toward the solar system’s planets. Kompas.com reported that the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter appear to form a nearly straight line in the night sky between November 2 and 3.
/data/photo/2025/07/12/68721af8363aa.jpg "Photo: Kompas.com")
Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation on November 20, placing the innermost planet about 19 to 20 degrees from the Sun. Spatial Highlights noted that observers must look toward the low eastern horizon just before dawn to catch the planet. Uranus reaches opposition on November 25, placing Earth directly between the distant ice giant and the Sun. Kompas.com pointed out that while Uranus is visible all night, observers generally require binoculars or a telescope to spot its faint blue-green disk.
Leonids and the Beaver Moon Close Out November
The Leonid meteor shower peaks on the night of November 17 through the morning of November 18. Spatial Highlights reported that this shower originates from dust and debris left behind by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, which was first discovered in 1865 according to CNN Indonesia. Under ideal conditions, the Leonids produce up to 15 meteors per hour. CNN Indonesia noted that the Moon sets shortly after midnight, leaving a dark sky that favors faint streaks.
The month concludes with a supermoon on November 24, corresponding with the full moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, known as perigee. CNN Indonesia added that this November full moon is traditionally called the Beaver Moon, a name originating from North American traditions marking the time to set beaver traps before rivers freeze for the winter.
