As temperatures drop and skies get clearer, November is an excellent time for stargazing and catching a glimpse of the magical aurora borealis. Here are some of the top astronomy highlights for the month:

November is a month of planets, moons and meteors. We start the month with two meteor showers that although not prolific are a great precurser to one of the best meteor showers of the year next month. On a good night you’ll be able to see over 10 Moons in the sky as the gass giants Jupiter and Saturn grace the sky with their easily visible moons. We will also have a spectacular supermoon to take us into December and the coldest period of the year. Winter is coming and stargazing starts to have a little chill accompanying it, so don’t forget to keep an eye on weather conditions and wrap up warm if you’re going out.

November 5th – Taurid Meteor Shower

The Taurid meteor shower, peaking on November 5th, is famous for its bright fireballs. Although it has a modest rate of around 5-10 meteors per hour, the Taurids often produce slow-moving, striking meteors which are much easier to spot with the naked eye. Conditions are favourable as the Moon will set in the hours after sunset meaning the sky will be darker.

Credit: Mengliu Du

November 15th – Full Beaver Moon

The penultimate full moon of the year is also the final supermoon of the year. The Frost Moon or the Beaver Moon and is given these names to reference the time of year that Beavers take shelter in their lodges for the winter as this is when the first heavy frosts normally happen in the northern hemisphere. A supermoon occurs when a Full Moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, called perigee. This makes the Moon appear larger and brighter than usual, often up to 14% larger and 30% brighter, creating a stunning celestial sight visible to the naked eye.

Credit: Roberto Nickson

November 17-18th – Leonid Meteor Shower

Later in the month, the Leonid meteor shower peaks on November 17-18. Known for its high-speed meteors, the Leonids originate from Comet Tempel-Tuttle and can produce stunning, fast trails across the sky. This year, a first-quarter moon will set around midnight, providing ideal conditions in the early morning hours.  The renowned Leonid meteor shower once delivered one of the most incredible meteor storms in recent memory. In a brief 15-minute span on the morning of November 17, 1966, meteors appeared at rates of thousands per minute. During that unforgettable night, the Leonids truly seemed to fall like rain.

Credit: Atiabii

All Month  – Jupiter and Saturn in Prime Viewing Position

Possibly, the most exciting addition to this months astronomy highlights is Jupiter reaching opposition. This placing it directly opposite the Sun from Earth’s perspective. As a result, it’s at its brightest and closest point, making it ideal for telescope viewing. You’ll find it high in the night sky, where you can even spot its four largest moons. Saturn will also be in the southern sky after sunset and in our opinion is the most impressive object to observe through a telescope.

Credit: Adam Block /Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona

Travel with The Aurora Zone

This months astronomy highlights is really showing off how wonderful our skies are set to be full of activity and of course after the official Solar Maximum announcement, there is no better time to travel to the Aurora Zone…

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