As we enter the month of November in 2022, here in the Northern Hemisphere, the late Autumn season brings us the natural transition of fall colors, crisp weather, pumpkin spice lattes (if you're into that sort of thing), and, more importantly, fresh new skies to be explored and observed.
(Looking for last month's astronomy events? View October 2022)
Although November is the eleventh month of the year according to the Gregorian calendar, it's interesting to note that it used to be considered the ninth month of the year, back when we followed the Roman calendar. In fact, November is derived from the Latin word "novem", meaning "nine".
But enough of the history lesson. Let us turn our focus to what's in the sky this month.
November is full of must-see events for the amateur stargazer, astrophotographer, and professional astronomer. This includes a rare total lunar eclipse and spectacular meteor showers. Below, we will cover 8 intriguing astronomical events to look out for throughout the November night sky.
Most of the events mentioned below can be observed without any special optical equipment. However, you can browse for a quality pair of binoculars or a good telescope which will significantly enhance your overall viewing experience.
Here are the key astronomical events to mark on your calendar for the month of November:
11/8 - Total Lunar Eclipse | Blood Moon
One of the major astronomical events of 2022 occurs at the start of the month. On November 8th, a total lunar eclipse will be visible all across North America. It's a pretty big deal since the next total lunar eclipse will not be seen until March 14, 2025 (2:55am ET). Unfortunately, if you miss this one, you'll have to wait almost three years for this unique sighting.
The peak phase of the total eclipse will begin at 5:16am ET and end at 6:41am ET. However, the full transition will last approximately 6 hours. The Moon will be near apogee (farthest point from Earth) at this time, which means it may look slightly smaller than usual.
This early morning total lunar eclipse in November is also referred to as a Blood Moon, due to the reddish hue that appears to the naked eye. Traditionally, in the Native American culture, November's Full Moon is known as the Beaver Moon because during this time beavers tend to become active building their dams for the upcoming Winter season.
11/9 - Uranus at Opposition
A day after the lunar eclipse, on November 9th, the planet Uranus will be at opposition. From our perspective on Earth, opposition occurs when a planet is 180 degrees away from the Sun. That means the planet will appear at the direct opposite end of the sky from the Sun's location. The precise opposition will occur at 3:00am ET.
During this time, Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, will appear at its clearest and brightest for the year shining at a magnitude of +5.6. When the Sun is setting, Uranus will appear just above the eastern horizon.
With Uranus being so distant, located approximately 1.6 to 1.98 billion miles (2.6 to 3.2 billion kilometers) away from Earth, it is often difficult to spot it with the naked eye. Therefore, this is a great night to take out the binoculars or dust off the telescope to get an optimal view of Uranus. Lookout for the tiny blueish-green dot in the southeastern area of the Aries constellation.
11/12 - Northern Taurids Meteor Shower Peak
The Northern Taurids meteor shower originating from the Taurus constellation (recognized as "The Bull"), will reach peak activity on November 12th. On this night, you may be able to spot up to 5 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society.
Although the radiant point is near Pleiades in the Taurus constellation, it is not advised to solely focus your gaze there. The closer meteors are to their radiant point, the more difficult they are to spot due to their shorter trails. Preferably, you should find a dark location with limited light pollution from which to view and simply gaze up at as much sky as possible. The broader the area of sky you are observing, the higher the likelihood of catching a glimpse of the meteor shower.
If you miss this event on the 12th, don't worry, the Northern Taurids meteor shower remains active until December 2nd, 2022.
11/16 - 3rd Quarter Moon
In its waning phase from the November 8th total lunar eclipse, the Moon will reach its third quarter of journeying around the Earth on Wednesday, November 16th at 8:28am ET. This is the point at which the Moon will appear half-illuminated on its western side. At this time the Moon will rise above the horizon around midnight.
11/17 - Leonids Meteor Shower Peak
November 17th marks the peak of the Leonids meteor shower with up to 15 meteors per hour, according to the American Meteor Society. The Leonids meteor shower which is associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle, originates from the Leo constellation (recognized as "The Lion").
For maximizing your meteor shower viewing experience, find a dark location away from the bright city lights, lay back on a comfortable lawn chair (or lie down on a blanket), allow 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the darkness, and simply gaze up at the night sky. As the temperatures decrease, here in the Northern Hemisphere, make sure to dress appropriately for the cooler weather.
11/23 - New Moon
On November 23rd, the Moon will begin a new lunar cycle at 5:58pm ET. The New Moon occurs when the Sun and the Moon are positioned at the same ecliptic longitude. Due to this conjunction, the Moon will appear mostly invisible to the naked eye. The lack of the Moon's light provides a darker-than-usual night sky which allows for a better stargazing experience. These are great nights to take out the binoculars or telescope to observe the celestial objects that are typically harder to find under more illuminated conditions.
11/30 - 1st Quarter Moon
Ending the month, on November 30th, the Moon will arrive at the first quarter of its journey around the Earth at 9:37am ET. At this phase, the Moon measures a 90-degree angle from the Sun and appears half-illuminated on its eastern side. During the Moon's first quarter point, it rises above the horizon around mid-day and sets around midnight.
11/30 - Mars Closest to Earth
On the last day of the month, the planet Mars will be at its closest proximity to Earth. To be exact, Mars will be 50.608 million miles (81.446 million kilometers) away. If you decide to take this night as an opportunity to gain a better look at Mars, you will find the bright reddish planet located in the Taurus constellation in the southeastern sky.
