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NASA’s November 2026 skywatching guide points to two Taurid peaks, Leonid meteors, a close apparent pairing of Mars and Jupiter, and a full supermoon on Nov. 24. NASA also says Voyager 1 is expected to reach one light-day from Earth this month, with an activation planned for Nov. 17.
NASA’s November 2026 skywatching guide highlights the Southern and Northern Taurid meteor showers, Leonid meteors, a close apparent pairing of Mars and Jupiter, and a full supermoon on Nov. 24. The agency also says Voyager 1 is expected to reach one light-day from Earth this month, marking a communication-distance milestone for the spacecraft.
The Southern Taurids are expected to peak around Nov. 5, followed by the Northern Taurids around Nov. 12. NASA estimates that each shower may produce about five meteors per hour under ideal conditions. The agency notes that an occasional bright fireball may appear, but the number of meteors visible will vary with conditions and observers may see fewer than the ideal rate.
NASA recommends looking for the Leonids before dawn on Nov. 17 and 18, after the Moon has set. Under ideal conditions, the shower could produce about 15 meteors per hour; that is an estimate, not a guarantee of what any observer will see. The agency advises choosing a dark location, allowing about half an hour for eyes to adjust, and taking in as much of the sky as possible.
Before sunrise on Nov. 15 and 16, Mars and Jupiter will appear about 1.2 degrees apart in the southeast. Jupiter will be the brighter object, with reddish Mars nearby; NASA says both should be visible without a telescope. On Nov. 24, the full Moon will be a supermoon, and NASA describes it as the first in a sequence of three consecutive supermoons spanning November, December and January. The guide also calls for a Nov. 17 public activation tied to Voyager 1’s milestone.
A Month of Events for Skywatchers
The guide gives observers several opportunities to watch the sky across the month, including events visible without specialized equipment. The meteor showers offer variable, unscheduled streaks, while the Mars-Jupiter pairing can be followed over several mornings. The supermoon is a full Moon near a closer point in its orbit, although NASA says the difference in apparent size and brightness can be subtle.
Voyager 1’s milestone connects a visible-sky calendar to a distant spacecraft. At one light-day away, a signal traveling at the speed of light takes about 24 hours to reach the spacecraft and another 24 hours for a reply to return. The delay illustrates the distance involved in communicating with a probe operating far beyond the planets.
These dates are useful planning markers, not promises of ideal viewing. Local weather, light pollution, the Moon’s position and the observer’s location affect what can be seen. NASA’s hourly meteor figures are given for ideal conditions, and actual counts can be lower.
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How November’s Events Line Up
NASA’s schedule begins with the Southern Taurids around Nov. 5 and the Northern Taurids around Nov. 12. The showers are named for areas in Taurus from which their meteors appear to originate. The Leonids follow in the pre-dawn hours of Nov. 17 and 18, with viewing recommended after moonset to reduce interference from moonlight.
The planets’ close appearance is a line-of-sight effect: Mars and Jupiter remain far apart in space, even as they appear close together from Earth. NASA says viewers can watch their apparent positions change over several mornings, as the planets draw nearer and then move apart in the sky.
For the supermoon, NASA explains that the Moon’s orbit is slightly oval, so its distance from Earth changes. A full Moon near the closer part of that orbit can look larger and brighter than average. It may seem especially large near the horizon, but NASA identifies that impression as the Moon illusion, a common visual effect rather than a sudden change in the Moon’s size.
Visibility Depends on Conditions
NASA’s shower rates are estimates for ideal viewing conditions; the guide does not promise that observers will see those totals. It does not provide location-specific visibility forecasts, and cloud cover, local light pollution and viewing conditions will affect results. The precise appearance of the Mars-Jupiter pairing will also depend on where and when an observer looks.
The guide says Voyager 1 will reach one light-day from Earth during November and identifies Nov. 17 for a public activation, but the supplied material does not give an exact time for the distance milestone or detailed event instructions. It also points readers to NASA’s Voyager information page for more details. The schedule names the December and January supermoons as the next in the sequence but does not give their dates in this November guide.
Dates to Watch This Month
Skywatchers can follow the calendar through the month: Southern Taurids around Nov. 5, Northern Taurids around Nov. 12, the Mars-Jupiter pairing before sunrise on Nov. 15 and 16, the Voyager activation on Nov. 17, Leonids after moonset on Nov. 17 and 18, and the full supermoon on Nov. 24.
For Voyager 1 activation details, NASA directs readers to nasa.gov/voyager. Observers planning to watch the meteor showers can check local conditions and choose a dark site; NASA’s guide recommends giving eyes about 30 minutes to adjust. The agency’s November page does not specify a particular broadcast or event format for the Nov. 17 activation.
Key Questions
When can I see the Leonid meteor shower?
NASA recommends watching before dawn on Nov. 17 and 18, 2026, after the Moon sets. The guide estimates up to about 15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, but actual counts may be lower.
When will Mars and Jupiter appear close together?
Look toward the southeast before sunrise on Nov. 15 and 16. NASA says the planets will appear about 1.2 degrees apart, with brighter Jupiter near reddish Mars.
What does one light-day mean for Voyager 1?
It means Voyager 1 is so far away that a signal traveling at light speed takes about 24 hours to reach the spacecraft. A reply takes about another 24 hours to return.
When is November’s supermoon?
NASA lists the full supermoon for Nov. 24, 2026. The agency says it begins a run of three consecutive supermoons across November, December and January.
How can I improve my chances of seeing meteors?
NASA recommends finding a dark location, letting your eyes adjust for about half an hour and viewing as much of the sky as possible. Weather and local light conditions can still limit what is visible.
Source: science.nasa.gov
