November Stargazing: Top Celestial Highlights

November brings long, crisp nights and some of the best stargazing opportunities of the year in the UK. With deep darkness arriving early and major celestial events still to come, now is the ideal time to wrap up warm, head outside and explore the night sky.

The Leonid Meteor Shower

The Leonid Meteor Shower is active from around 6 November to 30 November, with a peak on the night of 17 November. These meteors come from debris left by Comet Tempel-Tuttle and can produce around 10 to 15 meteors per hour under dark skies.

For best viewing, find a dark site, look east or overhead after midnight, give your eyes 20 minutes to adapt, and simply lie back and watch.

Planets on Show

• Jupiter is increasingly prominent this month. By late evening it is high in the sky and shines brightly.

• Saturn remains visible in the southern sky in early evening hours, offering steady views of its golden glow.

• Venus is making a return as a “morning star” later this month, visible before dawn for early risers.

• Mars remains faint but can be spotted in the early morning sky with binoculars.

Winter Constellations Arrive

November’s longer nights herald the arrival of striking winter constellations:

• Orion rises in the east before midnight. Look for his iconic belt of three bright stars and the glowing Orion Nebula below.

• Taurus and the Pleiades star cluster climb higher in the sky, offering some of the best binocular views of the season.

• Auriga and Perseus are also well placed for observation and exploration.
  

November Stargazing Challenge: Catch a Leonid and Track Jupiter’s Moons

Objective Spend three nights observing meteor activity from the Leonids and watch the changing positions of Jupiter’s largest moons.

How to do it

1. Choose three consecutive nights around 17 November (for example 16, 17 and 18 November).

2. On each night, spend at least 30 minutes watching the sky after midnight for meteors. Pretend the sky is a wide screen rather than staring at one point.

3. On each of the same nights, find Jupiter after sunset and use binoculars or a small telescope to spot its moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Record or sketch their positions each night to see how they move.

4. Take a hot drink and blanket. Use a red-light torch so as not to spoil your night vision.

5. Share your results on social media using hashtags like #UKSNLeonids or #UKSNSkyChallenge and show off your best meteor or Jupiter moon photo or sketch.

Why this matters The Leonid shower offers bright, fast meteors that can deliver a memorable show under dark skies. Meanwhile Jupiter’s moons are a moving target right above us and a great way to make the heavens feel dynamic and connected.

Final Thought

November is a month when the universe seems closer. With nights long and dark, skywatchers in the UK have a rich display of planets, stars, constellations and meteors to enjoy. Whether you are chasing shooting stars, studying Jupiter’s moons or simply taking in Orion’s rise, the sky is ready for your attention. Clear skies and happy stargazing.