November 10 – Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation This is the best time to view Mercury since it is at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky.
November 11, 12 – Northern Taurids Meteor Shower This is a long running meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. This shower is famous for producing a higher than normal percentage of bright fireballs. The Northern Taurids is produced by dust grains left behind by Asteroid 2004 TG10. There will be a thin crescent moon this year leaving the skies dark for a good viewing of the show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Taurus, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 15 – New Moon The moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This is the best time to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
November 16, 17 – Leonids Meteor Shower The Leonids is an average shower producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. The next of these is expected in 2034. The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tempel-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1865. The crescent moon should set early in the evening this year leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Leo, but can be visible anywhere in the sky.
November 30 – Full Moon | Penumbral Lunar Eclipse The moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth from the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early native tribes as the Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. It has also been known as the Frosty Moon or the Dark Moon. A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s partial shadow, or penumbra. During this type of eclipse the moon will darken slightly but not completely. This eclipse will be visible throughout most of Northern America., the Pacific Ocean, and Northeastern Asia including Japan.
