Astronomical events for November 2021

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While the recent monsoons made it difficult for sky-gazers to locate a clear night sky, the approaching month is expected to provide multiple possibilities. So, grab a comfy chair, a pair of binoculars, and perhaps a camera if you want to capture the breathtaking vistas November has to offer.

The popular, annual Leonid Meteor Showers will be visible this month, and you may even be able to capture breathtaking images of the Milky Way galaxy!

Here is a selection of some of the top astronomical events for November 2021.


MOON PHASES

Astrophotography from Arkansan Tony Milligan. You can find more of his spectacular photos on his website, Captured in Time.

New Moon: Nov. 4
First Quarter: Nov. 11
Full Moon: Nov. 19
Third Quarter: Nov. 27

This month’s full moon is commonly referred to as the Beaver Moon, for the animals that build their winter dams this time of year.


METEOR SHOWERS

Astrophotography from Arkansan Tony Milligan. You can find more of his spectacular photos on his website, Captured in Time.

Northern Taurid Meteor Shower: Oct. 20-Dec. 10

Peak: Nov. 12

The Northern Taurid Meteor Shower is fairly unique in that it consists of two streams: debris from both Asteroid 2004 TG10 and Comet 2P Encke. It’s a minor shower, producing around five to 10 meteors per hour at its peak. Meteors will mostly radiate from the constellation Taurus, which is visible all night.

Leonid Meteor Shower: Nov. 6-30

Peak: Nov. 17

Formed by dust grains from Comet Tempel-Tuttle, the Leonids is an average shower known for around 15 meteors per hour at peak levels. This shower has a cyclonic peak, where every three decades or so hundreds of meteors per hour rain down, but that is not on the docket this year, unfortunately. Also, the full moon may crowd out many meteors from sight this year. The shower’s radiant point is the constellation Leo, and will be visible from around 11:30 p.m. to dawn.

Alpha Monocerotid Meteor Shower: Nov. 15-25

Peak: Nov. 21

The Alpha Monocerotid shower is only known to produce a handful of meteors per hour on normal years (although it can result in intense meteor showers from time to time). However, given that its peak night falls within the viewing range of the two other showers this month, gazers should have some decent luck toward the latter half of the month between the three of them.


PLANETS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

Astrophotography from Arkansan Tony Milligan. You can find more of his spectacular photos on his website, Captured in Time.

Nov. 3: Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury

Our moon and the solar system’s innermost planet, Mercury, will lie within 2 degrees of each other from our vantage point. This event will occur in the early morning hours, at around 6:30 a.m., above the eastern horizon.

Nov. 3: Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at Perihelion

Comet 67P will make its closest approach to the Sun on Nov. 3 and will reach its brightest magnitude in our night sky on Nov. 7. The comet will be visible from just after midnight until dawn for most of the month, located in the constellation Gemini before moving to the constellation Cancer on around Nov. 14.

Nov. 4: Uranus at Opposition

The second-outermost planet will reach a point directly opposite the Sun this month, as well as its perigee, or closest point to Earth. This is as good a time as any to view Uranus, but a telescope or good pair of binoculars is required. It will be in the constellation Aries and visible for most of the night.

Nov. 7: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus

The Moon and Venus will crawl to within nearly 1 degree of each other in our sky on this night, sharing the same right ascension. The duo will become visible at around 5:30 p.m. and will sink below the horizon around 8 p.m.

Nov. 27: Ceres at Opposition

The dwarf planet Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt, will also reach opposition this month. Look to the constellation Taurus, where it will be visible for most of the night.


The best stargazing outcomes will always be obtained in the darkest of heavens. So, when stargazing in November, try to choose a location as far away from city lights as possible.

Reference/s: All About You