\n WTOP’s Greg Redfern joins Ian Crawford to discuss the biggest celestial gifts to check out for November.<\/p>\n
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\n This iPhone image was taken at sea of the Andromeda Galaxy and approximates the view of the elongated galaxy with your eyes and binoculars. (WTOP\/Greg Redfern)<\/p>\n
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\n This iPhone image was taken at sea of the Andromeda Galaxy and approximates the view of the elongated galaxy with your eyes and binoculars. (WTOP\/Greg Redfern)<\/p>\n
Welcome to WTOP\u2019s monthly feature, \u201cWhat\u2019s up in the sky?\u201d Each month it features the best the sky has to offer stargazers regarding the moon, planets and stars. Space-related events that might interest you taking place in the D.C. area are included as well.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s get to the sky for November 2025!<\/p>\n
Must-see sky sights for November<\/strong><\/p>\n Full hunter\u2019s supermoon is the largest and brightest full moon for 2025.<\/p>\n The Leonid meteor shower will take place on the night of Nov. 20 to 21.<\/p>\n Star of the month:<\/strong> Capella<\/strong><\/p>\n In November, be on the lookout for bright Capella<\/a> in the northeast. It is the first bright winter season star and is beautiful to see rising in the early evening hours. Look for it right after it gets dark as it will \u201ctwinkle\u201d with wonderful colors due to being low on the horizon.<\/p>\n Highlights of the month<\/strong><\/p>\n As November begins, the Summer Triangle<\/a> is headed toward the Western horizon with the Milky Way running through it as it flows across the sky to the northeast. As the night heads into the hours before dawn, the \u201cWinter Milky Way\u201d is visible in the southeast to the northwest.<\/p>\n You can image the Milky Way with a smartphone and\/or camera by taking time exposures. For best results, use a tripod.<\/p>\n The constellation Pegasus<\/a>, the Flying Horse, is also known as the \u201cGreat Square.\u201d That is because it is a \u201cGreat Square\u201d in the eastern sky after dark. It is very easy to see. Attached to Pegasus is the constellation of Andromeda<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n Following the star chart<\/a>, try to locate a fuzzy spot with your eyes \u2014 binoculars will help immensely. When you find it, this is the great Andromeda Galaxy<\/a>. This is the farthest object at 2.5 million light-years that can be seen with the unaided eye.<\/p>\n The light from the Andromeda Galaxy that is entering your eye left the galaxy when our ancestors were developing a curved spine to help us walk more efficiently<\/a>. Pretty amazing.<\/p>\n Nov. 5:<\/strong> As it gets dark, Saturn and the almost full moon rise in the East a mere two degrees apart.<\/p>\n Nov. 6:<\/strong> The full hunter\u2019s supermoon<\/a> is at 7:19 a.m. Eastern Time and rises at sunset in the East. This is the second full supermoon of 2025 and the largest and brightest full moon of 2025. Should be a grand sight at sunset. Get your smartphone\/camera ready.<\/p>\n Please note that a reference I used for the full harvest supermoon in October\u2019s \u201cWhat\u2019s Up\u201d erroneously reported it to be the \u201clargest and brightest\u201d of 2025.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Nov. 17: <\/strong>The Leonid Meteor Shower <\/a>should be best from 1 a.m. to dawn. Under dark sky conditions, the Leonids exhibit a maximum of about 10 to 15 meteors per hour.<\/p>\n The moon<\/strong><\/p>\n Nov. 5:<\/strong> Full hunter supermoon \u2014 largest and brightest full moon for 2025.<\/p>\n Nov. 12:<\/strong> Last quarter<\/p>\n Nov. 20: <\/strong>New moon<\/p>\n Nov. 28:<\/strong> First quarter<\/p>\n Planets<\/strong><\/p>\n Mercury is favorable for Southern Hemisphere viewers at dusk in the west.<\/p>\n Venus is very low above the eastern horizon before dawn, and will become more difficult to see as it nears the sun\u2019s glare.<\/p>\n Mars is in the glare of the sun at dusk.<\/p>\n Jupiter rises in the northeast during the evening hours and is quite bright.<\/p>\n Saturn is high in the southeast after dark. A great view in a telescope as the rings cast a thin line across the planet.<\/p>\n Uranus<\/a> is in the eastern sky after dark. You need a telescope to best observe the planet although it is visible in binoculars.<\/p>\n Neptune<\/a> is in the east as it gets dark. You need a telescope to observe the planet.<\/p>\n Pluto<\/a> is way out there in the solar system and requires taking images through a telescope spaced days apart to hunt it down.<\/p>\n DC-area events<\/strong><\/p>\n Shenandoah National Park<\/strong><\/p>\n Shenandoah National Park\u2019s Big Meadows is an excellent dark sky site. I will be conducting my \u201cLet\u2019s Talk About Space\u201d events<\/a> at Skyland Lodge Conference Center, so hope to see you there.<\/p>\n NOVAC General Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n George Mason University. Check the calendar for astronomy events<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Analemma Society<\/strong><\/p>\n The Analemma Society<\/a> has resumed observatory operations. Check the link regarding Friday Night Public Viewing Sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. Check their calendar for other astronomy activities in November.<\/p>\n Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n Other groups holding events in September include\u00a0Virginia State Parks<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0National Capital Astronomers<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n You can\u00a0check here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0here for astronomy clubs<\/a>\u00a0that are outside the D.C. area.<\/p>\n Bonus!<\/strong><\/p>\n Download NASA\u2019s 2025 Science Calendar<\/a>\u00a0that features out-of-this-world pictures and information.<\/p>\n The\u00a0Planetary Society\u2019s Space Events 2025 Calendar<\/a>\u00a0is another resource for tracking space missions.<\/p>\n Use this\u00a0useful tool to create a custom star chart<\/a>\u00a0for your location to help you find your way around the stars.<\/p>\n You can also send in any space-related questions to my email address. Suggestions about this feature are also welcome.<\/p>\n Follow Greg Redfern on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Bluesky<\/a>\u00a0and his\u00a0daily blog<\/a>\u00a0to keep up with the latest news in astronomy and space exploration.<\/strong><\/p>\n