November 2024: List of Celestial Events to Watch This Month
November 2024 offers amazing sights in the night sky, including meteor showers, planets, and even comets. This guide shows you when and where to look for each event so you don’t miss a thing! Download the Sky Tonight app to easily track all these November celestial events in your location. Let's get started!
Contents
- Astronomical events in November 2024
- Planets in November 2024
- Constellations in November
- EDT changes to EST in November 2024
- Moon near planets in November 2024
- Mercury at greatest elongation in November 2024
- Full Beaver Moon (Supermoon!)
- Meteor showers in November 2024
- Comets in November 2024
- How to navigate the night sky?
- Bottom line: space events in November 2024
Astronomical events in November 2024
Note that we provide the event dates in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). For your location, the dates may differ due to the different time zones. Learn the exact time and dates of all the events for your time zone with the help of the Sky Tonight app.
- November 1: New Moon.
- November 3: Moon passes 2°06' from Mercury (mag -0.3).
- November 4: Moon passes 0°06' from Antares (mag 1.1).
- November 5: Moon passes 3°06' from Venus (mag -4.0) 🌟; Southern Taurids’ peak (ZHR = 10). 🌟
- November 9: First Quarter Moon.
- November 10: Mercury (mag -0.3) passes 2° from Antares (mag 1.1).
- November 11: Moon passes 0°06' from Saturn (mag 0.9). 🌟
- November 12: Northern Taurids’ peak (ZHR = 5); Moon passes 0°33' from Neptune (mag 7.8).
- November 15: Full Moon (Supermoon!) 🌟
- November 16: Moon passes 0°06' from Pleiades (mag 1.2); Mercury (mag -0.3) at greatest elongation (evening). 🌟
- November 17: Leonids’ peak (ZHR = 20) 🌟; Moon passes 5°37' from Jupiter (mag 2.8); Uranus (mag 5.6) at opposition.
- November 20: Moon passes 1°54' from Pollux (mag 1.2) and 2°24' from Mars (mag -0.3).
- November 21: Moon passes 3°06' from the Beehive cluster (mag 3.1); α-Monocerotids’ peak (ZHR = variable).
- November 22: Moon passes 2°42' from Regulus (mag 1.4).
- November 23: Last Quarter Moon.
- November 26: November Orionids’ peak (ZHR = 3).
- November 27: Moon passes 0°24' from Spica (mag 1.0). 🌟
- November 29: Comet 333P/LINEAR (mag 9.8) passes perihelion.
*The highlighted events are the outstanding events of the month.
About magnitude: the faintest magnitude for stars and planets visible to the naked eye in cities with moderate light pollution is about 4. The limiting magnitude of an optical device depends on its specification but rarely exceeds 11.
Planets in November 2024
Northern Hemisphere
While Mercury (mag -0.3) reaches its greatest elongation at the end of November, it's too close to the horizon for most Northern Hemisphere observers. You might try to catch a glimpse of it around November 20, very low above the southwestern horizon during the evening.
Venus (mag -4.1) graces the evening sky, visible near the southwestern horizon for up to an hour in the constellation Ophiuchus before shifting into Sagittarius around November 8.
Mars (mag -0.1) can be seen in the night and early morning hours in Cancer.
Jupiter (mag -2.6) shines brightly all night in Taurus.
Saturn (mag 1.0) appears in the evening and remains visible in Aquarius throughout the night.
Uranus (mag 5.5) is also in Taurus and visible all night, and Neptune (mag 7.8) appears in the evening and night in Pisces.
P.S. Binoculars or a telescope will be necessary to spot fainter planets, like Uranus and Neptune.
Southern Hemisphere
Mercury (mag -0.3) is very low in the west during the evening. It starts the month in the constellation Scorpius and moves into Ophiuchus by mid-November.
Venus (mag -4.1) is also visible in the west in the evening, starting in Ophiuchus and shifting to Sagittarius around November 8.
Mars (mag -0.1) is visible in the early morning in Cancer.
Jupiter (mag -2.7) can be seen at night and in the morning in Taurus.
Saturn (mag 0.9) appears in the evening in Aquarius.
Uranus (mag 5.5) can be seen with binoculars all night in Taurus.
Neptune (mag 7.8) is visible in the evening and night in Pisces, but you'll need binoculars or a telescope to view it.
Constellations in November
In the Northern Hemisphere, November is a great time to see the prominent constellations Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and Pisces, as well as the less prominent Cepheus.
In the Southern Hemisphere, November offers a chance to see several smaller constellations like Sculptor, Phoenix, Tucana, and Hydrus, which are well-positioned. This is also the best time to view Cetus, one of the largest constellations in the sky.
If you're having trouble finding constellations, use the Sky Tonight app. Simply type in the name of the constellation you want, tap the target icon, and the app will show you its location based on where you are. Need more details? Tap on the name to learn more about it.
Learn more: Best constellations by season for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
EDT changes to EST in November 2024
Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) are two different time zones used in the Eastern part of the United States and parts of Canada.
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Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is the time observed during daylight saving time (DST), which is in effect from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. During this period, the clocks are set one hour ahead of EST to make better use of daylight in the evenings.
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Eastern Standard Time (EST) is the standard time zone used during the rest of the year when daylight saving time is not in effect. EST is UTC-5 (five hours behind Coordinated Universal Time), while EDT is UTC-4.
In 2024, EDT ends on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 2:00 a.m. On this date, clocks are set back one hour, returning to EST. This is commonly referred to as "falling back."
Daylight saving time will begin again on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2:00 a.m., when clocks will be advanced to 3:00 a.m.
Moon near planets in November 2024
Ever looked up and wondered, “What’s that bright spot near the Moon?” Chances are, it’s a planet! Every month, planets swing by the Moon in our sky, creating what astronomers call a “close approach.” These events are visible to the naked eye, and they make for fantastic photo opportunities. Here’s a quick look at some of November’s best Moon-planet events, and you can check out our article for the full list.
In the evening of November 4, catch Venus, the brightest planet, glowing next to a thin crescent Moon. With the New Moon just a few days earlier on November 1, the sky will be especially dark, making Venus and the thin Moon stand out beautifully.
In the evening of November 11, look for Saturn shining near the Moon, which will be over 70% illuminated. The two will be so close they’ll be less than a pinky-width apart. If you’re in Asia or Africa, you’ll even get to see the Moon pass right in front of Saturn.
On the night of November 17-18, Jupiter, the second-brightest planet, will sit about three fingers of an outstretched hand away from the nearly Full Moon. Both will rise in the evening and stay visible all night. In dark skies, you might also spot the nearby Pleiades star cluster.
Mark your calendar and get ready for some stunning views! If you’re unsure which bright objects are near the Moon, try the free Sky Tonight astronomy app — it’ll show you the name of any object.
Mercury at greatest elongation in November 2024
On November 16, Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation, appearing farthest from the Sun in the evening sky, at an apparent separation of 22°30'. This event, known as greatest elongation, marks the best time to observe Mercury. Usually, Mercury stays close to the Sun and is hard to spot due to the bright sunlight or the planet’s proximity to the horizon.
During this elongation, Mercury will be visible in the evening shortly after sunset in the constellation Ophiuchus. Look for it low on the western horizon as it shines bright in the early dusk — an ideal opportunity for both observing and photographing this elusive inner planet.
Learn more: Complete guide on Mercury, including how to spot it in the sky and the best times to see it.
Full Beaver Moon (Supermoon!)
On November 15, at 21:29 GMT, the Full Moon will occur. At this time, our natural satellite will be located in the constellation Aries.
You may have heard that the Full Moon in November is called the Beaver Moon. This name was given by the Native Americans a long time ago. The thing is, they used to name all the Full Moons after the peculiarities of a particular calendar month. November is the month when beavers begin to seek shelter in their lodges; in North America, people used this time to set traps for beavers (because of their thick, warm fur).
To learn more about the names of the Full Moons, check out the infographic (a picture of a cute beaver included).
Meteor showers in November 2024
Five meteor showers will reach their peaks this month. Those are the Southern Taurids, Northern Taurids, Leonids, Alpha Monocerotids, and November Orionids, where the most prolific one is the Leonid meteor shower.
The two branches of the Taurid meteor shower will peak on November 5 (Southern Taurids) and November 12 (Northern Taurids). Known for their slow, bright meteors, the Taurids are a great choice for meteor watching, even though each stream typically produces only 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak. Viewing conditions will be nearly perfect around the Southern Taurids’ peak, thanks to the recent New Moon, which will keep the sky dark. This meteor shower is visible from both hemispheres, though Northern Hemisphere observers will have a slightly better view due to the radiant's higher position in the sky.
The Leonids are November’s most active meteor shower, producing up to 20 meteors per hour. This year, however, the peak on November 17 at 04:00 GMT coincides with a nearly Full Moon, making viewing more challenging. If the constellation Leo is above your horizon, you’ll have a better chance of spotting meteors. Alternatively, try the evening of November 14 or the night of November 19-20, when activity may increase, though the exact meteor rates are uncertain.
Get some top tips on how to successfully observe meteor showers in our dedicated article, then test your knowledge with the quiz!
Comets in November 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was visible to the naked eye in mid-October in the Northern Hemisphere, with a stunning tail stretching across the sky. In November, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) may still be visible in the early evening over the western horizon for those using binoculars, as it gradually dims after its closest approach to the Sun. Throughout this month, the comet will dim from magnitude 5 to 8.
Comet 333P/LINEAR will reach perihelion on November 29, 2024, with an expected magnitude of 9.8, making it observable through large binoculars or a small telescope. At this time, the comet will be visible from both hemispheres. It will have its closest approach to Earth on December 9, 2024, when it reaches magnitude 10. This Jupiter-family comet, discovered in 2007 by the LINEAR project, follows a retrograde orbit with a period of 8.7 years.
Learn more: List of the brightest comets observable from the Earth in 2024-2025. Some of them might become visible through binoculars or even with the naked eye!
How to navigate the night sky?
One of the easiest ways to find celestial objects in the sky is to use the Sky Tonight astronomy app. It is an interactive map of your sky on your device, overlaid on the real image of the sky. Its database contains thousands of celestial objects — stars, planets, comets, galaxies, nebulae, and more. Best of all, they are all free.
Just open the Sky Tonight app and point your device (phone or tablet) at the sky to activate live mode. Tap on any object you're interested in to see its name. Tap again to get more information about it. The app also includes a handy astronomy calendar so you can plan your observations in advance! Watch our tutorial to learn how it works.
Bottom line: space events in November 2024
In November 2024, don't miss elusive Mercury, some noteworthy meteor showers, and the lunar occultation of brilliant Saturn. At the end of the month, the sky will be graced by a beautiful Full Beaver Moon. Observers with binoculars will be able to catch a glimpse of comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), which was at its best in the mid-October and is now leaving the inner Solar System. To navigate the sky and locate all the beautiful celestial objects, use the Sky Tonight astronomy app.
We wish you clear skies and happy stargazing!
