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November 2026 offers several skywatching dates, including the Southern Taurids’ peak on Nov. 4–5, a new moon on Nov. 9 and a predawn lineup of Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter from about Nov. 14 to 25. Uranus reaches opposition on Nov. 25. Visibility will depend on location, weather and light pollution.
November 2026 will bring a series of skywatching opportunities, including the Southern Taurids’ peak on Nov. 4–5, a dark-sky window around the Nov. 9 new moon and a predawn lineup of four planets beginning around Nov. 14, according to CNET’s November sky guide. Uranus reaches opposition on Nov. 25, while the visibility of the planets and meteors will depend on local conditions and viewing location.
The Southern Taurids are expected to peak during the evening of Nov. 4 and the morning of Nov. 5. CNET’s guide estimates about five meteors per hour, describing the shower as modest in frequency but known for producing bright fireballs. The shower is active from Sept. 20 through Nov. 20, according to the guide. The moon is expected to be 22% illuminated during the peak, a condition the guide says the American Meteor Society describes as favorable for meteor viewing.
The new moon falls on Nov. 9, creating the month’s darkest night for observing faint stars and other objects, provided skies are clear and observers can get away from artificial light. That same date is Carl Sagan Day, an unofficial observance honoring the astronomer. Around Nov. 14–25, Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter are expected to appear in a predawn lineup. CNET says the viewing window for Mercury may be only about 30 minutes before sunrise, because the sun follows it above the eastern horizon.
Several planets are visible at other times during the month. Mars and Jupiter rise near each other and are expected to appear close to the star Regulus. The Moon joins them on Nov. 2 and 3, moving from near Mars toward the other side of Regulus. Saturn is visible in the evening sky, while Neptune appears close to Saturn; CNET recommends binoculars or a telescope for both. Mercury becomes more favorable after its Nov. 20 western elongation, and Venus is expected to become easier to spot as the month progresses. Uranus reaches opposition Nov. 25, when it is opposite the sun in the sky and at a favorable point for viewing; binoculars or a telescope will help.
November 2026 · The night sky
What to See in the November 2026 Sky
Meteors, planets, stars and a new-moon dark-sky window fill the month’s calendar. Four planets gather before dawn, while Uranus reaches opposition late in November. What you see will depend on your location, weather and local light.
01 / Calendar
Four dates to mark
The schedule offers targets for evening, midnight and predawn observing. Dates and visibility can vary with location.
Nov. 2–3
The Moon passes near Mars and Jupiter, moving from Mars toward the other side of Regulus.
Nov. 4–5
Southern Taurids peak overnight. Expect a modest rate and watch for occasional bright fireballs.
Nov. 9
New moon brings the month’s darkest night for faint stars and night-sky photography.
Nov. 14–25
Four planets line up before dawn; Uranus reaches opposition on Nov. 25.
Find a dark spot
Choose an open horizon away from artificial lights.
Check the forecast
Clouds and haze can hide even bright targets.
Match the hour
Evening, overnight and predawn events need different plans.
Use a sky map
Confirm rise times and positions for your location.
02 / Planet guide
Look up, then look east
Planet positions shift through the month. Use the time window and equipment notes to set expectations.
Timing matters
Difficult near the Sun early in the month. After western elongation on Nov. 20, it becomes more favorable, but stays low near sunrise.
Bright target
Visible before sunrise throughout the month and expected to separate more from the Sun as November progresses.
Near Regulus
Rise in the east around midnight or earlier as the month advances. The Moon joins them on Nov. 2 and 3.
Optical aid helps
Visible after dark. Neptune appears close by; binoculars or a telescope are recommended for both.
Uranus at opposition
On Nov. 25, Uranus lies opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky and is especially well placed for viewing. Binoculars or a telescope will help locate it.
ALL NIGHT
03 / Set expectations
Two different kinds of night
A modest meteor count and a changing planet lineup reward patience and realistic planning.
Southern Taurids
The guide estimates about five meteors per hour at peak. That is an average estimate, not a guaranteed hourly count. The shower is active Sept. 20–Nov. 20 and is known for occasional bright fireballs.
Predawn lineup
Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter are expected across a window of roughly Nov. 14–25. Exact dates and arrangement vary by location; Mercury is the hardest to catch.
“The Southern Taurids should average about five meteors per hour.”
04 / Field notes
Local skies shape the view
The guide provides a broad calendar, not city-specific observing forecasts or exact times for every location.
The Nov. 9 new moon creates a darker window for faint stars, provided skies are clear and you can get away from artificial light. It is also Carl Sagan Day, an unofficial observance honoring the astronomer.
Cloud cover, haze, buildings, trees and local horizons can limit what you see. Mercury’s low position close to sunrise makes timing especially important. Daylight saving time ends Nov. 1; earlier sunsets may make evening observations more convenient.
The guide does not list a full-moon date or a separate full-moon viewing event. Treat every date as an opportunity rather than a guarantee of visibility.
05 / Quick answers
Plan the night
A concise guide to the month’s main observing questions.
Meteor shower
When do the Southern Taurids peak?
The evening of Nov. 4 into the morning of Nov. 5. The guide estimates roughly five meteors per hour, though actual sightings vary.
Naked eye
Can I see the planet lineup without a telescope?
Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter are expected to be visible to the naked eye around Nov. 14–25. Mercury is hardest because it is close to sunrise.
Stargazing
Which night is best for faint stars?
Nov. 9, the new-moon date, is the month’s darkest night. Clear skies and a spot away from artificial lights will improve the view.
Opposition
What does Uranus at opposition mean?
Uranus is opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky on Nov. 25, making it especially well placed. Binoculars or a telescope are recommended.
Several Targets Across November
The calendar gives observers options at different hours and with different equipment. The Nov. 2–3 Moon, Mars and Jupiter grouping is accessible to naked-eye viewers, while the Taurids offer a chance to watch for occasional bright meteors. The Nov. 9 new moon provides darker skies for star fields and night-sky photography, and the later planetary lineup rewards observers willing to get outside before dawn.
These dates also help set realistic expectations. The Southern Taurids are not forecast to produce a high meteor count, and the predawn alignment is not a single brief event: CNET says it should be visible over a period of roughly Nov. 14 to 25, with the exact dates varying by location. Mercury’s short pre-sunrise window makes timing especially important. No event guarantees a clear or easy view; cloud cover, local horizons and light pollution can affect what observers see.
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November’s Planet Viewing Windows
The November guide describes the month as the final full month of autumn in the Northern Hemisphere and notes that daylight saving time ends on Nov. 1. Earlier sunsets can make evening observations more convenient, although the four-planet grouping requires a predawn start. Planet visibility changes through the month because each planet’s position relative to the sun and Earth changes.
Mercury is difficult to observe when it appears close to the sun. CNET says it starts November too close to the sun for a safe view after its October eastern elongation, then reaches western elongation on Nov. 20. Venus is described as visible before sunrise throughout the month and increasingly separated from the sun later in November. Mars and Jupiter rise in the east around midnight or earlier as the month advances. Saturn is best viewed after dark, while Neptune’s proximity to Saturn and Uranus’s opposition are opportunities better suited to observers with optical aid.
“The Southern Taurids should average about five meteors per hour.”
— CNET’s November 2026 skywatching guide
Local Conditions Shape Visibility
The schedule and visibility descriptions come from CNET’s sky guide; the source material does not provide independent observing forecasts for particular cities or latitudes. The precise dates and arrangement of the four-planet lineup may vary by location, and Mercury’s low position near sunrise can make it difficult to see. Weather, haze, buildings, trees and light pollution may also limit observations.
The guide gives no exact viewing times for every location and does not specify a full-moon date or a separate full-moon viewing event. Readers should not treat the listed dates as a guarantee that a target will be visible from any given site. The Southern Taurids’ stated rate is an average estimate, not a promise of five meteors in every hour.
Check Local Skies Before Observing
As each date approaches, observers can use a local planetarium or astronomy app to check where targets will rise and set from their location, then compare that information with the weather forecast. For the Nov. 4–5 meteor peak, choose a dark location with an open view and allow time for eyes to adjust. For the Nov. 9 new moon, plan around clear skies and reduced light pollution.
Those aiming for the predawn lineup should check local sunrise and begin looking before Mercury becomes difficult to distinguish near the brightening horizon. The guide’s final listed milestone is Uranus at opposition on Nov. 25. Actual visibility will be determined by conditions on the night, so local forecasts and sky maps remain the practical next checks.
Key Questions
When do the Southern Taurids peak in November 2026?
CNET’s guide places the peak in the evening of Nov. 4 and morning of Nov. 5. It estimates roughly five meteors per hour, though actual sightings vary.
Can I see the November planet lineup without a telescope?
Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter are expected to form a predawn lineup around Nov. 14–25, and the guide says they should be visible to the naked eye. Mercury is the hardest to catch because it appears close to sunrise. Binoculars or a telescope are recommended for Uranus, Neptune and Saturn’s rings.
Which night is best for stargazing in November?
The guide identifies Nov. 9, the new-moon date, as November’s darkest night. Clear weather and a location away from artificial lights will improve the view.
What does Uranus reaching opposition mean?
At opposition on Nov. 25, Uranus is positioned opposite the sun in Earth’s sky. CNET says this makes it especially well placed for viewing, although binoculars or a telescope are recommended.
Source: CNET
