NASA has just unveiled its November skywatching guide, offering tips on celestial events to observe this month. Several planets will be prominently visible in the night sky. Saturn, for instance, will appear in the southern sky each evening, and stargazers in the Americas can catch a close encounter with the Moon on November 10. “Look up around midnight, and you’ll notice the Moon has shifted a couple of degrees west of Saturn, demonstrating the Moon’s orbital motion over just a few hours,” NASA shared in its latest update.

Jupiter will also make an early appearance, rising in the east along with the bright stars of Taurus and Orion, and moving across the sky by dawn. By late November, Jupiter will be visible as soon as the sky darkens. Meanwhile, Mars will appear about three hours after Jupiter and can be found high in the pre-dawn sky for early risers.

Venus, shining brightly, will be visible low in the southwestern sky after sunset, making it a stunning evening sight throughout the month.

Lunar occultation

In the pre-dawn hours on November 27, skywatchers across the eastern U.S. and Canada will have the rare chance to witness an occultation. This celestial phenomenon occurs when one object in space passes in front of another, momentarily concealing it from view. On this morning, the Moon will move directly in front of the star Spica, completely obscuring it from sight.

NASA explains that this occultation is part of an ongoing series that began in June and will continue each month into late next year. As the Moon’s orbit gradually shifts, it occasionally aligns with Spica, causing these monthly occultations. Each event, however, is visible only from certain regions. While North America will enjoy the best vantage point this November, South American stargazers will get their opportunity next April. For U.S. observers, this November occultation marks the last prime chance to see the Moon block Spica until 2032, when a new sequence of monthly occultations will become visible worldwide.

Over the coming weeks, there’s plenty to look out for, so keep an eye on the skies! For optimal viewing, seek out a location with minimal light pollution and hope for clear skies.