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.
Andromeda appears in the east at sunset. It moves very high in the sky during the course of the night, before lowering towards the south western horizon, where it disappears at sunrise.
Cetus rises in the south east at sunset and moves across the southern sky throughout the night. It sets in the western sky just before dawn. It rises earlier as the month goes on, and so the beginning of the month is when it is visible for the longest time.
Cepheus is a circumpolar constellation, so can be seen all night. At sunset, it appears very high in the sky, near the zenith. It circles towards the north west over the course of the night before disappearing in the north at sunrise.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Venus is visible in the morning sky, for a few hours before dawn. Look for it low on the south eastern sky appearing like a very bright star. Venus will undergo lunar occultation on the 9th and be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 28th.
Mars cannot be seen this month, because it is on the opposite side of the Sun.
Jupiter can be seen all night, appearing in the east at sunset and moving across the southern sky to set in the west a little before dawn. It is at perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 1st, and at opposition, its furthest point from the Sun in the sky, on the 3rd. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 25th.
Saturn is visible in the evening sky, appearing due south when the sun sets. It then sets around midnight in the west. Saturn sets earlier towards the end of the month, so best views will be at the beginning of the month. It ends retrograde motion on the 4th and will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 20th.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be seen all night, where it rises in the north east around sunset and sets in the north west around sunrise. Uranus is close to Jupiter this month, and can be seen to the left of it. It will be at opposition, its furthest point from the Sun in the sky, on the 13th.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears low in the eastern sky and moves across the south to set in the west in the early hours of the morning. Neptune sets later as the month continues, so best views will be towards the end of the month.
Meteor Showers
The Northern Taurids reach their peak on the 12th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Taurus. This is in the sky all night, which mean meteors will always be visible. Best views will be around 01:00 GMT, when Taurus will be highest in the sky. You will be able to see around 4 meteors per hour.
The Leonids reach their peak on the 18th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Leo. Meteors will be visible after 22:16 GMT, when Leo becomes visible in the sky. Best views will be just before dawn, as Leo will be highest after sunrise. You will be able to see up to 13 meteors per hour.
The α-Monocerotids reach their peak on the 22nd. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Canis Minor. Meteors will be visible after 21:38 GMT, when Canis Minor will rise into the sky. Best views will likely be around 04:00 when it is highest in the sky.
The November Orionids reach their peak on the 28th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Orion. Meteors will be visible when Orion is in the sky after 18:11 BST, and stay visible until dawn. Best views will be around 02:00 BST, when the radiant is highest in the sky. You will be able to see around 2 meteors per hour.
Moon
Last Quarter: 5th
New Moon: 13th
First Quarter: 20th
Full Moon: 27th
The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 21st and apogee, its furthest point, on the 6th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 15th and aphelion, its furthest point, on the 25th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will have a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 27th.
Points of Interest
Asteroid 18 Melpomene will be at opposition, its furthest point from the Sun as we see it in the sky, on the 5th.
The Pleiades are well placed on the 18th.
The Hyades are well placed on the 28th.
Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.
Last updated: 23rd August.