November 2026 is shaping up to be an interesting month for skywatchers across India. Two meteor showers could send bright streaks across the night sky,
Mars and Jupiter will appear unusually close together, and a supermoon will light up the sky later this month. Several planets will be visible without a telescope, making November a good time to look up after sunset or before sunrise.
According to NASA’s November skywatching guide, the biggest attractions include the Taurid and Leonid meteor showers, a close pairing of Mars and Jupiter, and the full supermoon on November 24. People living away from city lights will have better viewing conditions, particularly during the meteor showers.
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November 2026 astronomical events: Important dates
| Date | Event | Best viewing time in India |
|---|---|---|
| November 4–5 | Southern Taurid meteor shower | Late night to early morning |
| November 9 | New Moon | Dark skies throughout the night |
| November 11–12 | Northern Taurid meteor shower | Late evening onwards |
| November 15–16 | Mars and Jupiter close together | Before sunrise |
| November 17–18 | Leonid meteor shower | Around 3 am until dawn |
| November 24 | Full supermoon | From moonrise onwards |
| November 25 | Uranus at opposition | During the night |
Taurid meteor showers: Watch for bright fireballs
The Southern Taurids peak around November 5, followed by the Northern Taurids around November 12.
Both showers are known for occasionally producing unusually bright meteors called fireballs. Under ideal conditions, observers may see around five meteors per hour from each shower.
The Northern Taurids should benefit from relatively dark skies this year, making November 11–12 worth marking on the calendar.
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Leonids meteor shower: Fast-moving shooting stars
The Leonids will reach their peak around November 17–18. NASA says observers could see up to 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, with fewer visible from most locations.
These meteors originate from debris left behind by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. They enter Earth’s atmosphere at around 69 kilometres per second (2,48,400 kmph).
The best time to watch in India is after midnight, particularly between 3 am and sunrise.
Mars, Jupiter and Venus: Which planets can you see?
Early risers have a treat on November 15–16. Mars and Jupiter will appear only about 1.2 degrees apart in the southeastern sky before sunrise.
Venus will shine brightly near the eastern horizon before dawn. Saturn will remain visible during the evening, making it one of the easiest planets to spot after sunset.
Uranus reaches opposition on November 25, offering good telescope-viewing conditions.
November 24 supermoon: Why will the Moon appear bigger?
The full Moon on November 24 will be a supermoon, occurring when the Moon is relatively close to Earth during its orbit.
It may appear slightly bigger and brighter than an average full Moon, though the difference can be difficult to notice without comparing photographs.
For the best meteor-watching experience, choose a dark location, avoid bright phone screens and allow your eyes around 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness.
