Summary
NASA’s November skywatching guide highlights the Taurid and Leonid meteor showers, a close apparent pairing of Mars and Jupiter, Voyager 1’s light-day milestone and a full supermoon on Nov. 24.
NASA’s November 2026 skywatching guide sets out dates for two meteor showers, a close-looking pairing of Mars and Jupiter, a milestone for Voyager 1 and a full supermoon. The guide gives approximate viewing rates for the showers and notes that they depend on ideal conditions.
The best dates for meteors and planets
The Southern Taurids are expected to peak around Nov. 5, followed by the Northern Taurids around Nov. 12. NASA estimates each shower may produce about five meteors per hour under ideal conditions. Both showers appear to originate from areas in the constellation Taurus. The Taurids are known for occasional bright fireballs, which can make a relatively quiet shower more striking.
The Leonids are due before dawn on Nov. 17 and 18. NASA says the shower could produce around 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, though most observers will see fewer. Its suggested window is after the Moon has set. A dark observing site and about half an hour for eyes to adjust can help make faint meteors easier to see.
Mars and Jupiter will appear close together in the pre-dawn sky on Nov. 15 and 16. NASA gives their apparent separation as about 1.2 degrees—slightly more than the width of two full Moons placed side by side. Look southeast before sunrise: Jupiter will be the brighter point of light, with reddish Mars nearby. The planets only appear close from Earth’s perspective; they remain far apart in space.
Voyager 1’s milestone and November’s supermoon
NASA expects Voyager 1 to reach a distance of one light-day from Earth during November. A light-day is the distance light travels in 24 hours. At that point, a signal travelling at light speed would take 24 hours to reach the spacecraft, with a reply taking another 24 hours to return. NASA’s “Shine Bright for Voyager’s Light-Day” activation is scheduled for Nov. 17. The agency suggests looking toward the constellation Ophiuchus to imagine the direction Voyager 1 is travelling.
The full supermoon falls on Nov. 24. The Moon’s orbit is slightly oval, so its distance from Earth changes; when a full Moon occurs while it is closer, it appears larger and brighter than average. NASA notes that the visual difference can be subtle. The Moon may also seem especially large near the horizon, an effect known as the Moon illusion. The November full Moon begins a run of three consecutive supermoons in November, December and January.