November 2026 Calendar
At any moment of the day, countless awe-inspiring celestial events are unfolding in the sky. With a universe of options, it can be hard to pin down what to observe. The purpose of this calendar is to provide a peek into what’s happening in the sky and in the world of astronomy in general and provide a quick list of highlights that can jump start your own explorations.
Early to Mid-November: Taurid Meteor Showers Peak
The annual Taurid meteor showers are now streaming across two channels — the Northern Taurids and the Southern Taurids — and both streams are rambling to a peak in the first weeks of November. Unlike flashier showers, the Taurids usually do not produce a prolific number of meteors per hour. In fact, 10 between the two is a generous estimation. But of the few that occur, there is a greater chance that some might be of the quite spectacular and particularly bright “fireball” variety. Luckily for meteor hunters hoping to catch one of these elusive meteors, the Taurids will face little lunar interference this year. To view the show, all you need is your naked eye, a good place to lie down under a dark open sky and patience.
Astrophotographer Larry Byrge captured this image of the Triangulum Galaxy with the aid of an Explore Scientific ED102 Triplet Refractor.
All month: Triangulum Galaxy
Galaxy enthusiasts will want to turn their telescopes toward the Triangulum constellation this month to take advantage of excellent views of the aptly named Triangulum Galaxy. Also known as Messier 33, this spiral beauty is the third largest member of our Local Group of galaxies – coming in behind the Andromeda Galaxy and our own Milky Way. M33 has an apparent magnitude of 5.7, which makes it a naked eye object, however, its nearly face-on presentation and large diameter of about 60,000 years means you will need ideal sky conditions to make out its diffuse light without an optical aid.
November 15 – Conjunction of Jupiter and Mars
Look toward the Leo Constellation mid-month to see two planetary powerhouses — Jupiter and Mars — meet up in the morning sky. Although the two will not be close enough to fit within a telescope’s field of view, the pairing can be enjoyed with a pair of binoculars. If you cannot catch them at their closest in the wee hours of November 15, they will continue to stay fairly close over the course of the next couple of mornings. Observers may also want to take a peek at Leo’s brightest star — Regulus — which will be nearby the two planets. Boasting an apparent visual magnitude of 1.35, the blue-white Regulus anchors the sickle-shaped asterism that defines the head of the lion and is said to represent the beast’s heart. Although it appears as a single point of light to the unaided eye, Regulus is a multiple star system that can be at least partially resolved with large aperture binoculars.
Nov 18 – Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks
An annual November presence caused by the Earth’s passage through debris left behind by the Comet Tempel-Tuttle, the always-anticipated Leonid meteor shower is set to peak around November 18 from midnight to dawn. Although it has a history of producing stunning meteor storms every few decades, the shower usually generates about 10 to 15 meteors per hour, which is this year’s expected rate. Even though the Leonids radiate from the Leo constellation, viewers should actually find a dark patch of early morning sky about 90 degrees away from the radiant point to see the most meteors.
November 20-21 – Mercury Shines Bright in the Morning Sky
Around November 20, Mercury will be a bright presence in the pre-dawn sky as it moves into a prime position for early morning viewing. Because it is always so close to the Sun, Mercury is usually lost in its glare. But on this day it will be at its greatest western elongation or at its furthest point to the west of the Sun, which, means it will rise more than an hour before the Sun in some places, especially in the northern hemisphere. A clear sunrise horizon is essential for viewing Mercury, which can be found in the Libra constellation during the event. While this often-elusive planet will be visible to the naked eye, a pair of binoculars or a small telescope could provide additional details.
November 24 – Supermoon Visits the Seven Sisters
The Full Moon and the storied Pleiades star cluster with its brilliant blue stars will appear close together on November 24 – meaning it’s a great time to observe the duo. Also know by the names Messier 45 or the more poetic Seven Sisters, the Pleiades open star cluster has a rich lore that crosses cultures and goes back thousands of years. It is relatively young, having formed within the last 100 million years, and lies relatively close to Earth at about 440 light years away. Found in the Taurus constellation, it consists of more than 1,000 confirmed stars, although an average of only six are visible to the naked eye. A dark sky free of light pollution can help a dedicated observer see around a dozen Pleiades stars, but a good pair of binoculars or a low-power telescope can quickly reveal the more elusive members of this legendary cluster. Although the Moon and the Pleiades will be close enough to view through a binocular, the brightness of the Full Moon may wash out some details of M45.
November 25 – Uranus at Opposition
On November 25, Uranus will be at opposition, which means it is essentially at a position directly opposite of the Sun when viewed from Earth. At the same time, it will also be at its closest approach to Earth. For sky watchers, the combination of these factors means the planet will be in a prime viewing position almost all night, peaking at midnight local time. Even though Uranus will appear at its brightest and largest in the night sky during this event, naked eye observations will reveal little more than a star-like point. To really see this remote planet at its best, you will need a moderate-sized telescope pointed toward the Taurus constellation.
November 27 – Venus at Greatest Brightness
The ever-bright Venus will appear even more so as it reaches its greatest illuminated extent as a morning sky presence around November 27 in the Virgo constellation. After the Sun and Moon, Venus shines as the third brightest object in the sky so it is always a sight to behold. However, when it is at its greatest illuminated extent, Venus’ already impressive brilliance is enhanced because it is closer to Earth than usual.
CONSTELLATION SPOTLIGHT: Cassiopeia
In mythology, Cassiopeia was a vain creature undone by her arrogance. But the circumpolar constellation that bears her name certainly has some celestial beauties worth boasting about. Visible from 90° North to 20° South, Cassiopeia is known for the striking “W”-shaped asterism that is formed by its five brightest stars. The yellow-white giant Beta Cassiopeiae anchors one end of the “W.” Also known as Caph, this star is one of the brightest Delta Scuti type variables to grace the sky and has an average apparent magnitude of 2.27. The next point in the “W” is the orange giant Schedar (Alpha Cassiopeiae), which marks the heart of the doomed queen. The brilliant blue Gamma Cassiopeiae lies at the center of the famous asterism. Categorized as an eruptive variable, this star can outshine both Schedar and Caph when its intensity peaks. Nicknamed Navi by U.S. Astronaut Gus Grissom because of its usefulness as a navigational point in space, Gamma Cassiopeiae has a bulging equator due to rapid rotation and is also a spectroscopic binary. The next point in the “W” is Delta Cassiopeiae, which is an eclipsing binary that is also identified as Ruchbah. Its apparent magnitude varies between 2.68 and 2.74. The last star that defines the asterism is Epsilon Cassiopeiae, which is also known as Segin. Located about 440 light years away, this blue-white giant shines from its post with an apparent magnitude of 3.38. The queen’s notable stellar offerings continue beyond the five that define her most recognizable feature. Best viewed with a telescope, Eta Cassiopeiae is a beautiful binary star system with a yellow dwarf primary component that is much like our own star and an orange dwarf companion. Cassiopeia is also home to two stars in the very rare yellow hypergiant class - Rho Cassiopeiae and V509 Cassiopeiae. Although they are each located thousands of light years from Earth, their extreme luminosity keeps them visible to the naked eye.
Astrophotographers Donna and Donnie Houston captured this image of the Heart Nebula using the 80mm FCD100 Series Air-Spaced Triplet Refractor with the 0.8x Focal Reducer.
A quick tour of Cassiopeia’s deep sky offerings must begin with the famed pairing of the Heart Nebula and Soul Nebula. These stunning emission nebulae are faint for observing but they make ideal imaging targets due to their wide range of features - from nebulous clouds of churning gas and dust to open clusters of bright young stars. Another popular Cassiopeia sight is the open cluster Messier 52. Although it can be enjoyed with binoculars, a moderate-sized telescope will reveal it as a fan of faint stars that includes a couple of bright yellow giants – one of which pops out from the cluster’s southwestern edge. A far more remote open cluster is Messier 103, which is best viewed through binoculars due to its loose structure. Located near Ruchbah, the cluster, which includes a red giant that truly shines in photographs, will manifest as a hazy V-shaped patch. Another treat is the “The White Rose Cluster,” which is also known as “Caroline’s Rose Cluster” because it was discovered by famed astronomer Caroline Herschel. The cluster’s pattern of bright stars and dark paths is similar to the curves and valleys of a blooming rose. The constellation also offers the Bubble Nebula, which is a diffuse nebula southwest of M52; the open star cluster NGC 457, which has around 100 stars and is sometimes called the Owl Cluster or ET Cluster due to an eye-like pairing of two bright stars; the irregular galaxy IC 10, which is the only starburst galaxy in our local group; and the Pacman Nebula, an emission nebula with an open cluster of brilliant blue supergiants at its core and several Bok globules.
With the aid of an Explore Scientific ED127 FCD-100 Series Triplet Refractor and PMC-Eight G11 Mount, astrophotographer Steve Siedentop captured this detailed image showcasing the star-forming region known as IC 1871 that is nestled within the larger Soul Nebula. This is Steve’s account of the imaging experience: “It was a cold and clear night on Jon Wood Astronomy Field, about an hour east of Atlanta. This was first light with this camera and telescope combination, and it was a bit of a learning experience. The skies were clear and stable and there wasn't a mosquito to be found! This object is an open star cluster with associated nebulosity in the constellation Cassiopeia and is next to the Heart Nebula (IC 1805). There is an interesting radio source nearby in a massive star-forming region equivalent in apparent size to four full moons! This is usually imaged as part of a wide field effort to capture both the Heart and Soul nebula. I decided to go deeper and call it the Heart of the Soul.”
WANT TO NAVIGATE THE NIGHT SKY WITH EASE?
The Tirion Double-Sided Multi-Latitude Planisphere is a comprehensive sky map for northern hemisphere stargazers located between the equator and latitude 60° north that makes it easy to identify what constellations and major celestial objects are up in your night sky based on the date and time.
This night sky guide, which features maps crafted by noted celestial cartographer Wil Tirion, uses a double-sided design to minimize the distortion that is inherent to any polar-centered projection. This design choice means observers can see truer representations of the constellations located outside the equator (noted by a green line) by simply flipping the planisphere over.
In addition to showcasing constellations, this planisphere indicates the location of notable variable stars, open clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Other features include a line representing the ecliptic, a faint blue band for the Milky Way and a magnitude scale that indicates the brightness of the stars that are shown.
This astronomy planisphere is made of durable plastic that easily wipes clean, and the rotating components are secured with sturdy brass rivets for smooth manipulation. Guidance for using your sky map is printed on the device for quick reference.
