Meteors to 'Beaver Moon': All notable astronomical events in November
02 Nov 2025

This November promises a spectacular array of celestial events, from a supermoon to notable planetary events and mesmerizing meteor showers.

The month kicks off with Mercury's stunning evening apparition, offering a unique chance to see the elusive planet without a telescope.

This will be followed by three major meteor showers and the largest full Moon of the year, the 'Beaver Moon.'

Mercury's evening apparition on November 1-2
Planetary visibility

November 1-2 is seeing Mercury's exceptionally high ascent in the evening sky, giving stargazers a rare chance to spot this elusive planet.

The closer one is to the equator, the higher Mercury will appear in the night sky. However, at high latitudes, it may not be visible at all.

This is one of the biggest opportunities this year to see Mercury without a telescope.

Southern Taurids meteor shower on November 4-5
Meteor activity

The Southern Taurids meteor shower will peak on the night of November 4-5, with an expected 'fireball-swarm.'

This means stargazers can expect several exceptionally bright meteors lighting up the night sky.

The first peak of this annual event occurs in mid-October while the second one is expected in early November, making it an ideal time for observation.

'Beaver Moon' on November 5
Lunar spectacle

The full Moon on November 5 will be the largest of the year, a true 'supermoon.'

Known as the 'Beaver Moon,' it marks when beavers build dam defenses.

This year, the full Moon occurs shortly after Mercury reaches its highest altitude in the evening sky.

The event offers an excellent opportunity for stargazers to witness both celestial phenomena within a short timeframe.

Moon to pass near Pleiades star cluster on November 6
Stellar alignment

On November 6, the Moon will pass less than a degree away from the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters.

This provides an excellent opportunity for skywatchers to capture stunning photographs of this celestial event.

The Pleiades is a cluster of over 1,000 hot, young stars that are best viewed through binoculars or telescopes.

Northern Taurids meteor shower on November 11-12
Celestial display

The Northern Taurids, November's second meteor shower, will peak on the night of November 11-12. The American Meteorological Society predicts that this year's display could feature brilliant fireballs as both Southern and Northern Taurids overlap.

Leonid meteor shower on November 17-18
Shooting stars

The Leonid Meteor Shower is expected to peak on November 17-18 as Earth passes through Comet Tempel-Tuttle debris.

The fading crescent Moon will darken the sky, making it easier to view the meteor track.

Under ideal conditions, the Leonids are known for their spectacular shooting star displays, providing another treat for stargazers this month.

'Micro' new Moon on November 20
Celestial conditions

The new Moon on November 20 is a 'micro' new Moon that nearly disappears from the night sky as it falls close to lunar apogee, the Moon's furthest point from Earth.

This provides ideal conditions for stargazers to observe faint deep-sky objects like star clusters, nebulae, and distant galaxies through binoculars or telescopes.