November 2025: A Stargazer's Delight

November 2025 promises a spectacular show in the night sky. The month kicks off with a celestial treat: the Full Hunter's Supermoon, which is not only the largest but also the brightest full moon of the year. This supermoon will be at its peak on November 6th, making it a must-see event. For those who enjoy meteor showers, the Leonid meteor shower will light up the night from November 20th to 21st, offering a chance to see about 10 to 15 meteors per hour under dark sky conditions. Capella, a bright star, will be a standout in the northeast sky during November. It's the first bright winter star and is known for its beautiful twinkling colors when it's low on the horizon. As the month begins, the Summer Triangle and the Milky Way will be visible, transitioning to the Winter Milky Way as the night progresses. The Milky Way can be captured with a smartphone or camera using time exposures, and a tripod can help achieve the best results. The constellation Pegasus, also known as the Great Square, will be easy to spot in the eastern sky after dark. Attached to Pegasus is the constellation Andromeda, which contains the Andromeda Galaxy. This galaxy is the farthest object visible to the naked eye, located 2. 5 million light-years away. The light from the Andromeda Galaxy that reaches us today left the galaxy when our ancestors were evolving to walk upright. On November 5th, Saturn and the almost full moon will rise close together in the east, just two degrees apart. The planets will also put on a show: Jupiter will be bright and visible in the northeast during the evening, while Saturn will be high in the southeast after dark, offering a great view of its rings through a telescope. Uranus and Neptune will be visible in the eastern sky after dark, but a telescope will be needed to observe them clearly. For those in the DC area, there are several events to look forward to. Shenandoah National Park's Big Meadows is an excellent dark sky site, and the NOVAC General Meeting at George Mason University will feature astronomy events. The Analemma Society has resumed observatory operations, offering Friday Night Public Viewing Sessions at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum will also have loads of astronomy-related activities. To make the most of November's night sky, consider downloading NASA's 2025 Science Calendar, which features stunning pictures and information. The Planetary Society's Space Events 2025 Calendar is another useful resource for tracking space missions. Additionally, you can create a custom star chart for your location to help navigate the stars.