November skywatching guide: Beaver Moon, meteor showers and more you can't miss
From meteor showers to the Beaver Moon, find out when to look up.
METEOR MONTAGE: Spectacular meteor dazzles across the Midwest
Moving north-northwest at an astonishing 49,900 mph, a meteor lit up the skies over the Midwest on June 1, 2026. The dazzling celestial display was captured by numerous home security and dashboard cameras across several states, while fortunate skywatchers witnessed the spectacular event firsthand.
THE TAKEAWAY
- The skywatching events kick off on Nov. 4 with Mercury at inferior conjunction.
- There will be three meteor showers this month.
- The full Beaver Moon will happen on Nov. 24.
November is here, bringing a vibrant lineup of celestial events that will offer memorable viewing opportunities for skywatchers throughout the month.
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From dazzling new moons to spectacular meteor showers, November offers plenty of opportunities to witness remarkable astronomical events.
The Leonid meteor shower dazzles the sky. (Xue Bing / Costfoto/Future Publishing / Getty Images)
Here are the celestial events you won't want to miss this month:
Nov. 4 — Mercury at inferior conjunction
November's celestial lineup begins with Mercury reaching inferior conjunction, an astronomical event that occurs when the planet passes between Earth and the sun.
During this alignment, Mercury will appear very close to the sun in the sky from Earth's perspective, making the planet difficult to observe because of the sun's overwhelming brightness.
Mercury is seen crossing the face of the Sun . (NASA/Bill Ingalls)
Following inferior conjunction, Mercury will gradually appear farther from the sun and become visible before sunrise.
Nov. 5 — Peak of the Southern Taurids meteor shower
November is an exciting month for skywatchers, with not one, but three meteor showers expected to put on a show.
Kicking things off is the Southern Taurids meteor shower, which produces a low, but steady stream of shooting stars across the night sky.
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Members of an astronomical society prepare to view a meteor shower. (Photo credit should read OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images / Getty Images)
The Southern Taurids only produce about five meteors per hour, but they're known for their bright fireballs, which can create a spectacular display.
For the best chance of spotting the meteors, experts recommend heading away from bright city lights.
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Nov. 12 — Peak of the Northern Taurids meteor shower
The second meteor shower of November will be the Northern Taurids, which are expected to peak in mid-November, giving skywatchers another opportunity to catch shooting starts across the night sky.
A man watches a meteor shower. (Owen Humphreys/PA Images / Getty Images)
Like the Southern Taurids, the Northern Taurids are known for producing bright fireballs, which can briefly light up the sky.
Although the shower typically produces only a handful of meteors per hour, its slower-moving fireballs can make for an impressive display.
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Nov. 15 - Applause of Mars and Jupiter
The planets Jupiter and Mars will make a close approach, passing within 1.12 degrees of each other.
Saturn, Jupiter and Mars along with a crescent moon rise in the pre-dawn sky above One World Trade Center. (Gary Hershorn / Getty Images)
During this time, Mars and Jupiter will appear very close to each other even though they will remain millions of miles apart in space.
This event will be exciting for skywatchers as both planets will be visible in the same part of the sky.
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Depending on their brightness and viewing conditions, they can be spotted with the naked eye without any special equipment.
Every 33 years, the Leonids produce a meteor storm with at least 1,000 meteors per hour. (Xue Bing / Costfoto/Future Publishing / Getty Images)
Nov. 17 to 18 - Leonid meteor shower
The annual Leonid meteor shower will peak from Nov. 17 to Nov. 18. Viewers may be able to see 10 to 20 meteors per hour during this event.
According to NASA, about every 33 years, the Leonids produce a meteor storm with at least 1,000 meteors per hour. The last major event occurred in 2002, so with each preceding meteor shower, the event should get more vivid until the peak.
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This photo taken on Nov. 17, 2022 shows the Leonid meteor shower pictured at the seaside of Vladivostok, Russia. (Guo Feizhou/Xinhua / Getty Images)
Nov. 20 - Mercury at greatest western elongation
To make November even more exciting, skywatchers will have another opportunity to spot Mercury.
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During this time, the planet will reach its greatest western elongation. This occurs when Mercury appears at its farthest point west of the sun.
Since Mercury is one of the most challenging planets to spot, this event is one of the best opportunities to catch a glimpse of the planet before dawn.
The Full Moon rises behind the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn in New York City. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Nov. 24 - Beaver Full Moon
The full moon will rise on the night of Nov. 24 and will peak at 9:53 a.m. EST.
November’s full moon is known as the Beaver Moon since it rises around the time when small mammals begin to hibernate for the winter months.
The full moon rises behind the Temple of Poseidon in Sounion, Greece. (Getty Images)
This full moon will also be the first of the three consecutive "supermoons."
Nov. 25 – Uranus at opposition
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Uranus at opposition is an astronomical event that occurs when the planet is positioned directly opposite to the sun.
This will happen on Nov. 25, when the planet appears brighter than usual. Uranus will rise at sunset, reach its highest point around midnight, and set at sunrise.