By November 2026 Night Sky: Meteor Showers, Five-Planet Alignment, and Bright Venus Highlight PAGASA’s Astronomical Calendar
November 2026 promises an exciting month for skywatchers in the Philippines, with two meteor showers, a five-planet alignment, a bright Venus, and several close encounters between the Moon and planets.
According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), several astronomical events will take place throughout November, offering opportunities for stargazing and astrophotography.
Here are the major astronomical events to watch for this November.
Northern Taurid Meteor Shower on November 12
The Northern Taurid meteor shower is expected to reach its peak around November 12, producing approximately five meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions.
Although the Northern Taurids produce fewer meteors than some other showers, they are known for occasionally producing bright fireballs.
The meteors appear to originate from the constellation Taurus, which rises above the eastern horizon at approximately 5:58 PM. The radiant reaches its highest position around midnight, making the late evening and early morning favorable for observation.
The shower is associated with debris from asteroid 2004 TG10.
With the new moon occurring on November 9, moonlight interference is expected to be minimal during the shower’s peak, offering favorable conditions for skywatchers in locations with clear, dark skies.
Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Around November 18
Another highlight is the Leonid meteor shower, which PAGASA expects to peak around November 18.
The Leonids are active from November 6 to 30 and can produce approximately 15 meteors per hour during their peak under ideal conditions.
These meteors originate from debris left behind by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle as it travels around the Sun.
The shower takes its name from the constellation Leo, where its meteors appear to originate.
According to PAGASA, the radiant rises above the eastern horizon around 11:49 PM. The most favorable viewing period is during the hours before sunrise, particularly around 5:00 AM, when the radiant is high in the sky.
Skywatchers are advised to choose locations away from bright city lights for a better chance of observing the meteors.
Five Planets Align in the November Morning Sky
Beginning November 12, skywatchers will also have an opportunity to observe an apparent alignment of five planets in the morning sky.
The planets involved are Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Uranus.
According to PAGASA, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be relatively easy to spot, while Mercury will be more challenging because of its low position above the eastern horizon.
Uranus is much fainter and will require binoculars or a small telescope for better observation.
PAGASA’s sky simulation shows the planetary arrangement on November 19 at approximately 5:20 AM.
A planetary alignment does not mean the planets form a straight line in space. It simply means they appear along a similar region of the sky when viewed from Earth.
PAGASA also emphasizes that such alignments do not have direct physical effects on Earth.
Venus Reaches Its Greatest Brightness on November 28
Venus, often called the Morning Star when visible before sunrise, will become increasingly prominent in the eastern sky as November progresses.
On November 28 at 2:37 AM, Venus will reach its greatest brightness during its morning appearance, shining at an apparent magnitude of -4.7.
At this brightness, Venus will be one of the most noticeable objects in the pre-dawn sky, provided weather conditions are favorable.
Unlike stars, which often appear to twinkle strongly, bright planets such as Venus usually shine with a steadier light.
The Moon’s Close Encounters With Planets
Several planetary conjunctions and close approaches are also expected throughout November.
A conjunction occurs when two celestial objects appear close together in the sky from Earth’s perspective, even though they remain separated by vast distances in space.
Among the notable events are:
- November 2: The waning crescent Moon and Mars will make a close approach at 9:39 PM, followed by conjunction at 10:25 PM. The pair, together with Jupiter, can be observed in the eastern sky beginning around 1:30 AM on November 3.
- November 3: The Moon and Jupiter will make a close approach at 6:45 AM. Their pairing can be observed in the eastern sky before sunrise.
- November 15: Jupiter and Mars will reach conjunction, with the two planets appearing close together in the early morning sky.
- November 21: The Moon and Saturn will make a close approach at 4:02 AM. Their pairing can be observed in the western sky earlier that morning.
- November 30: The Moon and Jupiter will reach conjunction at 5:16 PM. The pair will become visible together in the eastern sky around midnight as December begins.
Some of these events occur when the objects are below the horizon or during daylight. However, skywatchers may still observe the planets appearing close together during nearby nighttime or early morning hours.
Mercury Becomes More Visible on November 21
Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation on November 21 at 7:31 AM, when it will appear approximately 19.6 degrees away from the Sun in the sky.
On the same day, Mercury will also reach its highest altitude in the morning sky for this appearance.
This provides a favorable opportunity to observe the planet shortly before sunrise, although its low position near the horizon may still make it challenging to spot.
November 2026 Moon Phases
PAGASA has also released the following schedule of lunar phases for November 2026:
- Last Quarter: November 2 at 4:28 AM
- New Moon: November 9 at 3:02 PM
- First Quarter: November 17 at 7:48 PM
- Full Moon: November 24 at 10:53 PM
The full moon on November 24 will be another highlight for moon watchers and photographers.
The Moon will also reach apogee, its farthest point from Earth in its orbit, on November 14 at 1:50 AM, at a distance of approximately 405,560 kilometers.
On November 26 at 5:01 AM, the Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at approximately 359,445 kilometers.
Constellations to Watch in November
Aside from meteor showers and planetary events, several constellations will be prominent in November’s evening sky.
According to PAGASA, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and Pisces will be notable toward the northern sky, while Cetus, Sculptor, Phoenix, and Tucana will be visible toward the south.
One particularly interesting constellation is Andromeda, home to the Andromeda Galaxy, also known as Messier 31.
The Andromeda Galaxy is the nearest major spiral galaxy to our Milky Way and is one of the few galaxies that can be seen with the naked eye under sufficiently dark skies.
Another constellation worth observing is Cassiopeia, which is recognizable by its distinctive W-shaped arrangement of stars.
Stargazing in Baguio This November
For residents and visitors in Baguio City, November offers several opportunities to enjoy the night sky, especially with the northeast monsoon or Amihan season underway.
However, clear skies are not guaranteed. Cloud cover, fog, and artificial lighting can affect visibility, particularly when observing faint meteors and stars.
For those hoping to watch the meteor showers, PAGASA recommends choosing dark locations away from city lights.
Meteor showers can be observed with the naked eye, so there is no need for a telescope or binoculars. Allowing your eyes to adjust to the darkness and finding an open view of the sky can improve the experience.
For planetary observations, binoculars or telescopes may help reveal additional details, particularly when viewing fainter objects such as Uranus.
Whether you’re hoping to catch a shooting star, photograph the full moon, or simply enjoy the night sky, November offers plenty of reasons to look up.
All dates and times are based on PAGASA’s November 2026 Astronomical Diary and follow Philippine Standard Time (PST).
