November 2026 Night Sky: Taurid Fireballs, the Leonids and a Mars–Jupiter Meetup

2 min read

November brings three meteor showers, a tight Mars–Jupiter pairing and a Full Moon on the 24th. Here’s what to look up for, and when.

The dates

• Nov 2–3: Around midnight, the Moon, Mars and Jupiter line up above the eastern horizon, about a binocular field apart (National Geographic).
• Nov 4–5 and Nov 11–12: The Southern and Northern Taurids. Expect only about five meteors an hour, but they’re known for slow, bright fireballs (Astronomical Society of Edinburgh).
• Nov 9: New Moon, the darkest skies of the month (University of Maine Astronomy Center).
• Nov 16: Mars and Jupiter at their closest, roughly a pinky-width apart before dawn (timeanddate).
• Nov 17–18: Leonid peak, up to 10–15 an hour under dark skies. Watch after midnight once the first-quarter Moon has set (EarthSky).
• Nov 24: Full Beaver Moon. Nov 25: Uranus at opposition. Nov 27: Venus at its brightest of the year, before dawn (timeanddate).

Retrograde watch

By our own calculations with the open-source astronomy-engine library, Mercury and Venus both appear to move backward right now. Both turn direct around November 13–14. Saturn and Neptune turn direct around December 10–13, and Uranus around February 8–9, 2027. In astrological tradition, a Mercury retrograde is a cue to double-check plans and messages. Astronomically, it’s an illusion caused by Earth overtaking, or being overtaken by, another planet.

Where to watch in LA

Griffith Observatory holds free public star parties, and the Angeles National Forest has darker skies. Give your eyes 20 minutes to adjust, and leave the phone in your pocket.

FAQ

When is the best meteor night in November 2026? The pre-dawn hours of November 18 for the Leonids.

Is Mercury retrograde right now? Yes, until around November 13–14, 2026.

Photo: Leonid meteor, by Navicore, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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