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November has 3 meteor showers and the best chance to see Uranus
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Nov 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
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Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Nov 1, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET
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Every week in November has a dazzling night sky headliner for fall stargazers.
“November has meteor showers that tend to be a favorite,” said Jackie Faherty, astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History. “This month is a good time to see planets, especially Saturn and Jupiter.”
Shooting stars
On Nov. 4-5, the Southern Taurids will peak with about five meteors per hour. That number might sound small, but the meteors are exceptionally bright, slow-moving and long-lasting. The shower often produces fireballs, which are as luminous as some of the brightest celestial objects. During the peak, there will be a crescent moon, which means skies will be darker and more ideal for spotting the streaking lights.
“Even in the city, some of these meteors will be bright enough that you'll be able to see them,” said Bart Fried, a member of the American Astronomical Society.
The Northern Taurids peak about a week later, on Nov. 12-13, yielding the same display of dazzling light as the Southern Taurids. During that evening, viewing conditions are good because of the low light from the crescent moon.
“These are bright enough that if you catch it anywhere in your field of view, your eyes snap right to it,” Fried said. “Don't worry about having to stare in the right spot. There is no right spot.”
The third and final meteor shower of the month, the Leonids, peaks Nov. 17-18 with around 15 shooting stars per hour. The moon will be at about half its illumination, which will make the sky brighter, but not impossible to see a meteor. Stargazers should head to darker spots in the city, such as Floyd Bennett Field.
“ Your best viewing for the Leonids will be from midnight until dawn after the moon sets,” Fried said.
Supermoon
The moon will appear up to 14% larger and 30% brighter on Nov. 23-24. The phenomenon is called a supermoon, when the moon is at or near its closest position to Earth in its oval-shaped orbit. When at this point, also called perigee, it appears larger and brighter.
A supermoon comes about three to five times per year. The next supermoon, which lands on Christmas Eve, will be the brightest, largest and final one of the year.
The planets
It will be possible to spot half of the planets in the solar system with the naked eye.
Jupiter, appearing in the southeast section of sky, is currently the brightest planet. For most of the month, Mars will be close to the gas giant. New Yorkers can see the red planet in the evening skies starting this month.
Golden-hued Saturn is also visible in the southern section of the sky. For views of the rings, stargazers will need binoculars or a telescope.
While looking for the rings, it’s a good time to find Uranus. The greenish-blue dot is the coldest planet in the solar system, and the second-farthest from the sun. The average temperature is about -320 degrees Fahrenheit. The seventh planet from the sun will be at opposition on Nov. 25, which means it’s at its closest distance to Earth on its roughly 84-year orbit around the sun.
Fried recommends using a planetarium app in order to locate Uranus before pointing a telescope or binoculars at the sky. At around midnight, the ice giant will be at its highest point in the sky, right overhead.
“With a 4-inch telescope, you can find Uranus with no problem,” Fried said. “It’s reasonably bright. It’s not visible to the naked eye, but it is visible in binoculars if you know where to find it.”
Early risers can catch a glimpse of Venus, which was the brightest object in the night sky during the summer. At this time of year, the solar system's hottest planet is referred to as the morning star.
Fall Constellations
As the weather cools, the constellations are continuing to shift with the seasons. This month, Orion the Hunter shines prominently along with his two dogs, Canis Minor and Canis Major.
Despite the city’s formidable light pollution, these constellations are easily discernible from the dissonance. Orion has a famous line of three stars that form his belt. Sirius, the dog star, is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky. The star is part of Canis Major.
Right near Orion, the bright stars of Gemini are also visible, Castor and Pollux.
“Gemini is a really good constellation to look for right now,” Faherty said. “You can see Castor and Pollux from New York City high in your sky towards the zenith.”
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Rosemary Misdary
Rosemary is health & science reporter. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 646-544-9524.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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