In November, there are some exciting events happening in the sky that you won’t want to miss. Here’s what to look out for:
The Moon
The moon’s phases for November will be as follows:
– New moon: November 1
– First quarter: November 9
– Full Moon: November 15
– Last quarter: November 22
November’s full moon is called the Beaver Moon because this is the time of year when beavers build their dams in preparation for the winter. This full moon will be the fourth supermoon of the year, following the Blue Moon in August, the Harvest Moon in September, and the Hunter’s Moon in October.
SpaceX Satellites
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has launched satellites that will be visible in the sky at various times throughout November. These satellites are part of an effort to improve internet connectivity for customers. You can catch a glimpse of them for a few minutes at a time.
Stargazers in our region will have the opportunity to see the SpaceX satellites on the following dates:
– November 1 at 6:15 pm (looking west to southwest)
– November 2 at 6:05 pm (looking west)
– November 3 at 5:47 pm (looking west to north)
– November 4 at 5:18 pm (looking west to east)
Planets and Stars
On November 17, Uranus will reach opposition. If the skies are dark enough, it may even be visible to the naked eye. When a planet is at opposition, it is directly facing the sun, making it fully illuminated and easier to observe.
Throughout November, three planets will be highly visible:
– Mars and Jupiter will be best seen in the early morning hours
– Saturn can be spotted after sunset
Meteor Showers
The Leonid meteor shower will be active from November 6 to November 30, with the peak expected on November 17. This meteor shower is known for its fast and bright meteors.
To catch a glimpse of the Leonid meteor shower, keep your eyes on the sky from midnight until dawn. You may be able to see the bright meteors with the naked eye and experience a dazzling display of nature’s beauty.
So, mark your calendars and make sure to look up at the sky this November to witness these celestial events. Whether you’re interested in the moon, planets, satellites, or meteor showers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the night sky this month.