What Constellations Are Visible in November 2024: The Month of Water

~4 min
Topics:Constellations & AsterismsStarsSkywatching
Water Constellations
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As November arrives, a number of constellations belonging to the "Water" region of the sky appear at their best. From sea creatures to celestial rivers, you can easily spot them with the free Star Walk 2 app. In this guide, we'll show you some of the most fascinating November constellations.

Contents

What is a constellation, and how does it differ from an asterism?

  • Constellations are groups of stars that appear to form a pattern when viewed from the Earth.

  • Asterisms are bright star patterns that are usually easily recognizable but are not officially registered as constellations.

Remember this key difference! For more details about constellations, take a look at our dedicated article.

How to locate a constellation?

The easiest way to make sure you're looking at the right constellation is to use Star Walk 2. Just point your device at the sky, and the app's sky map will adjust to match the stars in your exact location. It's that easy!

How to find a constellation
Locate any constellation in the sky with the help of Star Walk 2.
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If you’d like to challenge yourself and learn to locate constellations without the app, check out our infographic. It will help you find constellations using familiar star patterns as guides.

7 Constellations Everyone Can Find
Learn how to easily find famous star patterns and constellations in the night sky. Discover interesting facts about each of the constellations.
See Infographic

Brightest Constellations

Andromeda

  • Best seen from: both hemispheres
  • Brightest stars: Alpheratz (mag 2), Mirach (mag 2), Almach (mag 2.3)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: Andromeda Galaxy (M31) (mag 3.4)
Andromeda constellation
Andromeda is associated with water through mythology — the constellation is named after the Ethiopian princess whom the hero Perseus saved from being sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus.
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In November, Andromeda rises highest in the sky during the late evening hours, which is convenient for observations. Its brightest star, Alpheratz, marks the head of Andromeda and is also part of the Great Square of Pegasus asterism.

The most notable object within the borders of Andromeda is the Andromeda Galaxy. It is the closest galaxy to our Milky Way and can even be seen with the naked eye in a dark sky.

Pegasus

  • Best seen: both hemispheres
  • Brightest stars: Enif (mag 2.4), Scheat (mag 2.4), Markab (mag 2.5), Algenib (mag 2.8)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: Great Pegasus Cluster (M15) (mag 6.3)
  • Well-known asterism: Great Square of Pegasus
Pegasus constellation
In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the son of Poseidon, the god of the sea, who is also the deity of horses. Because of this unique lineage, Pegasus can be seen as both a flying horse and a seahorse!
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In the Southern Hemisphere, Pegasus, the Winged Horse, flies upright, while in the Northern Hemisphere, it appears upside down. The distinctive Great Square that forms its body is the easiest to spot. From the corner of the Great Square, formed by the star Markab, you can trace the neck and head of Pegasus, ending at the star Enif, which marks its nose.

Cetus (The Whale, The Sea Monster)

  • Best seen: both hemispheres
  • Brightest stars: Diphda (mag 2), Menkar (mag 2.5)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: Squid Galaxy (M77) (mag 8.9)
Cetus
The constellation Cetus was named after the sea monster sent by the god Neptune to devour Andromeda. Cetus was turned to stone when Perseus showed it the head of the gorgon Medusa.
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Cetus is the fourth-largest constellation in the sky and one of the oldest. In myths, it is depicted as various creatures, including a sea monster and a whale. Cetus is visible from most locations on Earth, except for the far northern latitudes. In November, it reaches its highest point in the sky.

Pisces (The Fishes)

  • Best seen: Northern Hemisphere
  • Brightest stars: Alpherg (mag 3.6), Gamma Piscium (mag 3.7), Alrescha (mag 4.3), Fumalsamakah (mag 4.5)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: Phantom Galaxy (M74) (mag 9.5)
  • Well-known asterism: Circlet of Pisces
Pisces
In Greek mythology, the two fish symbolize the goddess Aphrodite and her son Eros. They are said to have turned into fish to escape the monster Typhon, who was sent by Gaia to defeat them.
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The constellation Pisces is best seen in the Northern Hemisphere but can also be spotted in the Southern Hemisphere down to 65°S. The most vivid part of the constellation is the Circlet — a rough oval of 7 stars representing the head of the western fish.

Aquarius (The Water Bearer)

  • Best seen: both hemispheres
  • Brightest stars: Sadalsuud (mag 2.9), Sadalmelik (mag 2.9)
  • Brightest deep-sky objects: M2 (mag 6.2), Helix Nebula (mag 7.3), Saturn Nebula (mag 8), M72 (mag 9)
  • Well-known asterism: Water Jar
Aquarius
In Babylonian mythology, Aquarius was linked to the god Ea and was often associated with the destructive floods that the Babylonians frequently faced. The ancient Egyptians saw it as representing the god of the Nile. In Greek mythology, Aquarius was identified with Ganymede, a Trojan youth whom Zeus took to Olympus to be the cupbearer for the gods.
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Aquarius is high overhead in the November sky. This constellation is associated with the Eta-Aquarids, a strong meteor shower that peaks in early May. The meteors of the Eta Aquariids appear to originate from a point in Aquarius. The most recognizable feature of Aquarius is the Y-shaped asterism called the Water Jar.

More challenging constellations

These constellations may be trickier to find because they contain fewer bright stars, but they're still fun to observe. We recommend using the stargazing app Star Walk 2 to help you explore these challenging November "water" constellations.

Piscis Austrinus (The Southern Fish)

  • Best seen: Southern Hemisphere
  • Brightest star: Fomalhaut (mag 1.2)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: NGC 7176 (mag 12)
Piscis Austrinus
In Greek mythology, Piscis Austrinus was called the Great Fish and was depicted drinking the water poured by Aquarius. The two fish of the constellation Pisces were believed to be its offspring.
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Piscis Austrinus, the Southern Fish, is best viewed from the Southern Hemisphere but can also be partially seen in the Northern Hemisphere during fall. Although the constellation is small and quite faint, it has one bright jewel — the star Fomalhaut. This blue star, with a magnitude of 1.16, marks the mouth of the fish.

Eridanus (The River Eridanus)

  • Best seen: Southern Hemisphere
  • Brightest star: Achernar (mag 0.5), Cursa (mag 2.8), Zaurak (mag 2.9)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: NGC 1269 (mag 8.8)
Eridanus
In Greek mythology, Eridanus (or Eridanos) refers to both a legendary river in Northern Europe and the god connected to it. The Eridanus constellation is also associated with the Nile River in Egypt and the Po River in Italy.
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Eridanus rises high in the November evening sky for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it stays lower on the horizon, but parts of this celestial river can still be spotted at northern latitudes. Eridanus represents a river that starts near the constellation Orion and flows up to its brightest star, blue-white Achernar, at the border with Hydrus.

Delphinus (The Dolphin)

  • Best seen: Northern Hemisphere
  • Brightest stars: Rotanev (mag 3.6), Sualocin (mag 3.8), Aldulfin (mag 4)
  • Brightest deep-sky object: NGC 6934 (mag 9.7)
Delphinus
In Greek mythology, the constellation Delphinus represented a dolphin that helped Poseidon find the mermaid Amphitrite, whom he wanted to marry. In gratitude, Poseidon placed the dolphin among the stars.
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Although Delphinus is small and doesn't have any particularly bright stars, it is relatively easy to spot. In the Northern Hemisphere, it can be found near the Summer Triangle asterism, positioned along the side formed by Altair and Deneb. In the Southern Hemisphere, Delphinus appears lower in the northern sky.

Capricornus (The Sea Goat)

  • Best seen: Southern Hemisphere
  • Brightest star: Deneb Algedi
Capricornus
The constellation Capricornus is depicted as a hybrid creature, part goat and part fish. In Greek mythology, it's sometimes associated with Pan, the god with goat's horns and legs who escaped the monster Typhon by transforming his lower half into a fish's tail and diving into a river.
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The constellation Capricornus, the Sea Goat, is best seen from the Southern Hemisphere but can also be spotted lower on the horizon in the Northern Hemisphere during fall. Capricornus is a faint constellation, with only the star Deneb Algedi shining brighter than magnitude 3. To find it, you'll need a dark, clear sky.

Water constellations in the November sky: bottom line

November brings out the water-themed constellations in the night sky! From Pisces in the north to the Southern Fish, Piscis Austrinus, there's plenty for stargazers to enjoy. To make finding these "Water" constellations easier, let the Star Walk 2 app guide you through the celestial sea. Happy stargazing!

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Topics:Constellations & AsterismsStarsSkywatching
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