Woking Planetarium

Read our November sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Pisces rises just before sunset in the eastern sky, moving to set in the west in the early hours of the morning. Best views will be between 21:00 and 22:00 GMT, when it reaches its highest point in the southern sky.

Draco is a circumpolar constellation, and so can be seen all night. It appears a little to the north west of the zenith at sunset. It moves lower in the sky towards the north as the night goes on, so best views will be early evening.

Auriga rises in the north east just before sunset, moving across the southern sky towards the west, where it disappears at sunrise. It will be highest in the sky around 2:30 GMT at the beginning of the month; by the end of the month this changes to 01:00 GMT.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen.

Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen.

Mars rises around sunset and moves across the sky throughout the night towards the west. Best views will be in the middle of the night when it reaches its highest point in the southern sky. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 11^th.

Jupiter appears in the southeast at sunset and continues across the sky to set in the west in the early hours of the morning. As the month goes on, it starts its journey lower in the sky, and so can be seen for more of the night. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 4^th and ends retrograde motion on the 23^rd.

Saturn appears at sunset in the southern sky, almost at its highest point, and so best views will be just after sunset. It sets within a couple of hours in the southwest. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 1^st and on the 29^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises in the northeast just before sunset, making a full journey across the sky to set in the northwest just before sunrise. Uranus will undergo a lunar occultation on the 8^th and be at opposition on the 9^th.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be found just to the right of Jupiter this month, following the same pattern as it appears in the southeast before setting in the west in the early hours of the morning.

Meteor Showers

The Northern Taurids reach their peak on the 12^th and the radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Taurus. Meteors will be visible all night as Taurus never sets during darkness hours. Best displays are likely to be around 01:00 GMT, when it will be at its highest point in the sky. You will be able to see around 4 meteors per hour.

The Leonids reach their peak on the 18^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Leo. Meteors will be visible between 22:09 and 06:51 GMT, when Leo is visible in the sky. Best views are likely to be just before dawn, as it reaches its highest point after sunrise. You will be able to see around 12 meteors per hour.

The α-Monocerotids reach their peak on the 21^st. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Canis Minor. Meteors will be visible between 21:42 and 06:56 GMT when Canis Minor is above the horizon. Best displays are likely to be around 04:00 GMT, when it reaches its highest point in the sky.

The November Orionids reach their peak on the 28^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Orion. Meteors will be visible from 18:07 until dawn, when Orion is in the sky. Best displays are likely to be around 02:00 GMT, when it is at its highest point. You will be able to see around 2 meteors per hour.

Moon

Last Quarter: 16^th

New Moon: 23^rd

First Quarter: 1^st, 30^th

Full Moon: 8^th

The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 26^th and apogee, its furthest point on the 14^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 25^th and aphelion, its furthest point, on the 6^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Points of Interest

Asteroid 27 Euterpe is at opposition on the 12^th. It lies in the constellation of Aries and will be visible between 18:49 and 04:43 GMT. Best views will be around midnight, when the constellation will be at its highest point.

Asteroid 115 Thyra is at opposition on the 19th. It lies in the constellation of Perseus and will be visible between 17:53 and 05:58 GMT. Best views will be around midnight, when it reaches its highest point.

Asteroid 324 Bamberga is at opposition on the 22^nd. It lies in the constellation of Perseus and will be visible between 17:30 and 06:02 GMT. Best views will be around midnight when it is at its highest point.

Comet 118P Shoemaker/Levy reaches perihelion on the 24^th, in the constellation of Cancer. It will become visible around midnight, reaching its highest point at 04:16 GMT.

Asteroid 30 Urania is at opposition on the 29^th. It lies in the constellation of Taurus and will be visible between 18:02 and 05:25 GMT. Best views are likely to be around midnight when it reaches its highest point in the sky.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 18^th September.