November 2025 sky: Leonids, supermoon and Uranus opposition

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November offers a rich observing sky, blending spectacular meteor showers, bright evening planets, and notable lunar phenomena. The nights grow longer, light pollution recedes, and conditions are particularly favorable for amateur observing after the first hours of night. With a key week around November 17 for the Leonids and Uranus in opposition on November 21, this month mainly asks you to keep looking up when the sky is dark and clear.

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This guide offers a practical and accessible path, with concrete references on dates, directions, and typical observing times. It also highlights moments when the sky clears thanks to the lunar configuration: the Beaver Moon full Moon at the start of the month can wash out the faint meteors, but the New Moon on November 20 frees up nights ideal for meteors and comets. Finally, the planets shine in the evening and the period around November 21 puts Uranus in the spotlight thanks to its opposition.

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Planets visible in November 2025

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In November, two planets stand out in the evening sky: Jupiter and Saturn. Jupiter dominates the southwest sector shortly after sunset and remains very bright throughout the month. Look for its yellow-orange glow, easy to spot even far from artificial light. Saturn is also near the springtime planetary display, but lower and in a paler color: it can be spotted in the southern or southeast sky shortly after sunset and can be tracked during the first hours of the night with binoculars or a small telescope.

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Practical tip: for both, favor clear evenings and a dark sky, far from the glow of city lights. Position yourself to observe toward the southwest after sunset and toward the south in the late evening. Note that the appearance of the planets may vary with your latitude, but their brightness remains a friendly aid for spotting them quickly.

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Major constellations to observe in November

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November is rich in celestial figures easy to spot. Orion, Ursa Major, and Cassiopeia take their places in the vault of the sky and serve as useful reference points to locate other objects. Early in the evening, Orion is still low in the south; it then rises toward the south and southwest as the hours pass. Orion’s Belt and the stars of Taurus around Aldebaran and the Pleiades make ideal targets for naked-eye or binocular observations. Cassiopeia, very recognizable by its W-shape, is high in the north and can serve as a guide to find Perseus and Andromeda, two constellations that become more visible toward the end of the night.

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For beginners, a simple method is to spot a large silhouette (Orion, Cassiopeia) and then widen your gaze toward star clusters such as the Pleiades (in Taurus) and the Hyades (in Taurus) to appreciate the open clusters visible to the naked eye under a dark sky. In the middle and late night, Virgo and Centaurus appear in lower horizon regions; these constellations offer a variety of astronomical targets, double stars, and diffuse nebulae that fascinate both beginners and more experienced observers.

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Meteor showers not to miss

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November is particularly meteor-friendly, with two major showers overlapping in the second half of the month: the Taurids and especially the Leonids. The Leonids will peak around November 17, with rates estimated between 10 and 15 meteors per hour under a dark sky. It is one of the great autumn spectacles: fast meteors, often bright, radiating from a radiant in the constellation Leo. To maximize your chances, observe after midnight, when the radiant is high in the sky; find a clear place, far from light sources, and prepare to note the trajectories and colors of meteors, which appear and disappear in a fraction of a second.

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The Taurids are a more diffuse but persistent source throughout the month. Their rates remain modest, and appearances can be more sporadic, with a few bright meteors crossing the sky. For Taurids, irregularity is normal; observing for several hours increases the chances of seeing a few nice trails. The advice is simple: take a seat, get comfortable, and let your eyes adapt to the darkness. If you can, do 30 to 60 minute sessions in a row and note notable meteors, even if they aren’t at peak time.

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Important: the Moon can influence the visibility of the faintest meteors. With the Beaver Moon on November 5, lunar brightness can wash out fainter meteors; from the New Moon on November 20, the nights become darker, ideal for observing Leonids and comets thereafter. Plan your sessions around the Moon and favor the hours after Moonrise or, even more so, the hours after Moonset to maximize visible trails.

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Lunar phases and impacts on observing

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This month has two important lunar milestones: the Beaver Moon on November 5 and the New Moon on November 20. The full Moon of November 5 is a “supermoon” associated with maximal illumination and brighter-than-usual light. This brightness can eclipse the faint meteors and hinder observing details of lunar or cometary objects, but it offers a spectacular view of the Moon’s silvery face and its seas and relief features. On November 20, the new Moon completely darkens the lunar disk, providing dark skies conducive to observing meteors and comets in all their fineness. Finally, Uranus in opposition on November 21 places Uranus in the spotlight for observing this distant giant: it will shine in the night sky, visible with binoculars or a small telescope, and will lie near the region of distant stars, offering an interesting contrast with the fixed stars in the background.

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Practical tip: when observing meteors, use a broad reference point and let your eyes adapt to the darkness. Slightly move your gaze, sweep different areas of the sky, and let your eyes pick out the bright trails that pierce the darkness. For Uranus, look for a bright star in a region crowded with stars; a small telescope or binoculars enhance the visibility of details on the planetary disk and the halos around it.

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Comets to watch in November 2025

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Two comets will draw the night sky’s attention in November: C/2025 A6 Lemmon and 24P/Schaumasse. Lemmon is a distant but potentially observable comet with binoculars or a small telescope, showing modest but visible brightness in a dark sky. In November, its position slowly moves across the night sky, with a faint diffuse coma and a discreet tail, especially favorable after dusk in the central or northern regions of the sky. Take time to scan the sky and spot the glow of a small nebula or a bright disk that hints at its presence.

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24P/Schaumasse is a periodic comet that can also be observed with binoculars under suitable conditions. Its brightness is usually modest, but it may appear as a bright point and a diffuse trail when the sky is dark enough and the observation is pushed with a small telescope. In the weeks around November 21, monitor regions near the northwest after sunset to maximize your chances of spotting it.

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Practical tip: for both comets, prefer observations after nightfall, when darkness is deepest and lighting conditions are best. Use 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars to start, then switch to a telescope if you have one. Note the positions and brightness variations, as comets can change rapidly with their cometary activity.

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Practical observing tips

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• Prepare your observing site away from light sources: towns, roads, and streetlights should be out of your line of sight.
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• Dress warmly and plan to sit or lie down to stay comfortable during long sessions.
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• Note the times and directions of objects observed, and keep a notebook or app to record your observations and sky preferences.
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• Avoid using a bright white light; prefer a red flashlight to preserve night adaptation.
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• For meteors, start around 22:00 or after midnight, when the radiants of the Leonids and Taurids appear most often near the zenith.
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• Use binoculars or a small telescope for comets and planets, and don’t hesitate to verify your progress with sky charts or an astronomy app to locate objects in the sky based on your location and local time.
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• Check local weather and sky transparency forecasts to plan your observing nights. Clear, low-humidity nights offer the best conditions for meteors and comets.
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When to observe based on rise and set times

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For observers located in Western Europe, the times below give a general idea of favorable windows in November. Adapt them to your city and time zone:

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• Early in the month (November 1–10): twilight lasts quite long; observe Jupiter and Saturn in late twilight toward the southwest or south, then move toward the north and east for constellations and fainter stars.
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• Middle of the month (November 11–20): late hours offer better conditions, the Leonids’ radiant higher after midnight. Take advantage of the increasing darkness and monitor the Leonids around 23:00–02:00 local time.
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• End of the month and before the new Moon (from November 21): Uranus in opposition on November 21 offers an ideal opportunity to observe it with binoculars or a small telescope; the Lemmon and Schaumasse comets become more accessible in the hours after sunset and during the second half of the night, when the Moon is at minimum or absent.
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Practical tip: to observe meteors, favor the hours after sunset until late at night and choose windless nights with a stable atmosphere. For Uranus and the comets, opt for dark, stable skies, free of turbulence, to enjoy the details and halos around the comets.

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Conclusion: Lift your eyes and enjoy the show

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In November 2025, the night sky offers you a real autumn observing program: Leonids at their peak around the 17th, Taurids in the background, a supermoon on the 5th and a new Moon on the 20th that prepare the darkest nights for meteors and comets. Uranus in opposition on November 21 makes observing this giant of the solar system accessible even with simple equipment. Enjoy the observing evenings to learn the constellations, spot Jupiter and Saturn, then broaden your view to the comets and meteors crossing the celestial dome. Take time to listen to the silence of the nights, look to the north, south and east, and let the stars guide you through this autumn month that promises a rich and lively sky.