Star Brightly: 3 Celestial Events to Observe This November

The penultimate month of the year (!) brings the real start of the

holiday season, daylight savings time, and long, dark nights perfect for some star-gazing. Luckily, this month brings the potential for some serious skyward shows—all you need is patience and a well-picked viewing point.

November comes with a lunar eclipse and the peaks of two meteor showers, filling the deep seasonal skies with bursts of radiance. Note these sparkling sights on your calendar and get your loved ones outside for a beautiful celebration of life and light. 

Watching the stars and planets as they move through the sky is a sustainable activity and an ideal means of remembering where we stand in the greater scheme of things—the better to focus on what’s really important. 

After the Blood Moon’s rise on November 7,

Mars will join the orb for a red-tinged (and bright!) moment. The total lunar eclipse will occur early November 8, making for a shadowy, can’t-miss display. 

The peak of the Taurids Meteor Shower is usually slow going, but this year may be an exception.

The American Meteor Society has noted a

seven-year periodicity between fiery activity, and given that the last height of activity occurred in 2015, 2022 could bring some major light. 

The

Leonid Meteor Shower peaks mid-November, at which time it can produce 10-15 shooting stars each hour.

Though this show can have its quieter years, experts have predicted that 2022 may bring a small surge of hyperactivity. Keep an eye on the sky!