The astronomical calendar November provides the opportunity to witness a series of fascinating astronomical events and, for lovers of night sky photography, it is an especially exciting time. From Jupiter’s opposition to the Leonid meteor shower, this month offers a wide variety of celestial spectacles. Therefore, the astronomical calendar for November 2023 highlights the most notable events so you can enjoy a month full of wonders in the sky. However, dates may vary due to different time zones.
Astronomical calendar November 2023, don’t miss the cosmic events
November 3: Jupiter Opposition
On November 3, astronomy enthusiasts will have the opportunity to observe Jupiter’s opposition. At this time, Jupiter is at its closest position to Earth, and its near side is completely illuminated by the Sun, resulting in an impressive magnitude of -2.9. Jupiter is brighter than it will be at any other time of the year and is visible all night long.
November 9: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
On November 9, Venus and the Moon will meet in a beautiful conjunction, with Venus passing just 1.0 degrees south of the Moon at 09:30 UTC. At this time, the Moon will have a magnitude of -10.6, while Venus will shine at a magnitude of -4.3. In addition to the conjunction, this event will feature an occultation of Venus behind the Moon.
November 13: New Moon
On November 13, you can experience the New Moon, a time when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, causing its bright side to face away from the Earth. The moon phase will be 0% at 09:29 UTC. The days around the New Moon are ideal for astrophotography and capturing star trails.
November 13: Uranus Opposition
On November 13, the opposition of Uranus will take place, an event in which Uranus is at its closest position to Earth, and its visible side is completely illuminated by the Sun, reaching a magnitude of 5.6. Right now, Uranus is brighter than it will be at any other time of the year, making it the ideal time to observe and photograph this planet.
November 17-18: Leonid Meteor Shower
One of the most anticipated events on the November astronomical calendar is the Leonid meteor shower, which runs from November 6 to 30. However, the best night to photograph it is between November 17 and 18, when the peak is reached at 05:22 UTC, producing around 15 meteors per hour.
November 20: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
On November 20, the Moon and Saturn will meet in conjunction, with Saturn passing about 2.4 degrees north of the Moon at 14:06 UTC. At that time, the Moon will have a magnitude of -12.0, while Saturn will shine at a magnitude of 0.6. This conjunction offers an excellent opportunity to observe and photograph Saturn next to the Moon.
November 25: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
On November 25, the Moon and Jupiter will align in conjunction, with Jupiter passing about 2.5 degrees south of the Moon at 11:14 UTC. The Moon will have a magnitude of -12.7, while Jupiter will shine at a magnitude of -2.8. This conjunction will provide a stunning view of the Moon next to Jupiter.
November 27: Full Moon
November 27 will mark the Full Moon, a time when the Moon will be on the opposite side of the Earth, fully illuminated by the Sun. The Full Moon will occur at 09:17 UTC. Full Moon days are ideal for photographing the Moon alongside interesting subjects and can offer unique creative opportunities.
November 30: Manhattanhenge at Dawn
Manhattanhenge is a phenomenal event that occurs when the rising Sun aligns with the street grid on the island of Manhattan, New York, United States. Although the event occurs on both November 29 and 30, it is the 30th that offers perfect alignment.
This story was written in Spanish by Perla Vallejo in Ecoosfera
