Ten Celestial Events to Observe in November
November’s night sky promises a wealth of astronomical events, from a brilliant “super” Moon to captivating meteor showers. Here’s a guide to ten celestial sights to look forward to this month.
1. The Beaver Super Moon (november 4-5): November’s full Moon, traditionally known as the “Beaver Moon“ by Native American cultures – referencing beavers preparing for winter and historical hunting practices – will reach peak brightness on November 5 at 2:19 p.m. PST. This full Moon will also be a “super Moon,” appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual as it coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit (perigee). In fact, it will be the largest full Moon of 2025.
2. moon & Pleiades Conjunction (November 6): Shortly after reaching fullness, the Moon will make a close approach to the Pleiades star cluster (Messier 45) on the night of November 6. The two will appear less than a degree apart in the night sky, just 49 arc minutes separating them.
3. The Pleiades Star Cluster: The Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, is a gorgeous open star cluster containing over 1,000 hot young stars. While seven stars are traditionally identified within the cluster, only six are typically visible to the naked eye.
4. Northern taurids Meteor Shower (November 11-12): The northern Taurids meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of November 11 and the morning of November 12.
5. Taurid Meteor Shower Origins: Both the Northern and Southern Taurid meteor showers originate from the same source: debris left behind by Comet Encke. Over time, the comet’s dust trail has expanded, creating two overlapping showers.
6. Enhanced Taurid Fireballs (2025): while typically a weak shower, averaging around five shooting stars per hour, the overlap of the Northern and Southern Taurids in 2025 increases the likelihood of observing luminous fireballs.
7. Leonid Meteor Shower (November 17-18): The Leonid meteor shower will peak on the night of November 17-18 as Earth passes through the debris trail of comet Tempel-Tuttle.
8. Leonid History & Frequency: The Leonids are famous for past “shooting star explosions,” but generally produce a consistent rate of approximately fifteen meteors per hour under optimal viewing conditions. This year’s shower is expected to deliver that typical performance.
9. Dark Skies for Leonid Viewing: Favorable viewing conditions are anticipated for the Leonids, thanks to a waning Moon that will be only 9% full.
10. Source of the Leonids: The Leonid meteor shower is created by debris shed from Comet Tempel-Tuttle.
