Autumn night sky events include meteor showers and a November supermoon

Autumn’s night sky will offer a series of notable celestial events that are visible to observers across the Northern Hemisphere. Beginning in early November, the Leonids meteor shower is expected to peak on the night of November 17, delivering up to 15 meteors per hour under dark conditions. The following week, the Geminids—a long‑standing, high‑activity shower—will reach its maximum on the night of December 13, with rates of 120 meteors per hour anticipated for observers in locations with minimal light pollution. Both showers will appear to radiate from the constellations Leo and Gemini, respectively, and will be best viewed after midnight when the radiant points are highest in the sky.

In addition to the meteor displays, the month will feature a November supermoon that will rise on the evening of November 30. The full Moon will be approximately 14 percent larger and 30 percent brighter than an average full Moon, reaching a peak altitude of 62 degrees above the horizon for mid‑latitude observers. Astronomers note that the supermoon will coincide with the waning crescent of the Orionids, offering a striking contrast between the bright lunar disk and the faint meteor trails. These events provide a compelling opportunity for both amateur and professional astronomers to conduct observations and public outreach before the onset of winter.