November 2025 is packed with sky shows: the year’s largest supermoon, a dark‑sky Leonids peak, a potential Taurid “swarm” of bright fireballs, Uranus glowing at opposition, plus photogenic Moon pairings and two star occultations. All dates below are given in UTC; convert to your local time.
Key dates at a glance
- Nov 5 – Super Beaver (and Hunter’s) Moon at 13:19 UTC; perigee the same day (largest full Moon of 2025). 1
- Nov 4–5 – Southern Taurids peak (fireball‑prone “swarm” year; bright Moon). Nov 11–12 – Northern Taurids peak. 2
- Nov 17 – Leonids peak near New Moon; best after midnight. 3
- Nov 20 – New Moon at 06:47 UTC (also a “micro” new moon at apogee). 1
- Nov 21 – Uranus at opposition (visible all night; binocular/telescope target). 4
- Nov 21 – Alpha Monocerotids (normally faint; no outburst expected). 5
- Nov 28 – November Orionids (minor shower; evening Moon sets before prime hours). 6
- Photogenic pairings/occultations: Moon–Pleiades (Nov 6), Moon–Jupiter (Nov 10), Moon occults Elnath (parts of S. America/Africa, Nov 8) and Regulus (parts of Russia/Greenland, Nov 12–13), Moon–Saturn (Nov 29). 7
The month’s headliner: the year’s biggest supermoon (Nov 5)
November’s full Moon reaches peak phase at 13:19 UTC on Nov 5, the same day it reaches perigee, making this the closest (largest and brightest) full Moon of 2025. Many outlets are calling it the year’s biggest supermoon; expect it to look ~8% larger and ~15–16% brighter than an average full Moon. It’s popularly the Beaver Moon; because the Harvest Moon fell in October this year, November’s full Moon is also the Hunter’s Moon. Best views come at moonrise/moonset when foregrounds give scale (that “Moon illusion” is psychological, not optical). 1
Tip: You don’t need special gear—just frame the rising Moon with landmarks and keep exposure short (around 1/125–1/250s on phones/cameras) to preserve detail.
Meteor‑watcher’s calendar
Taurids: slow meteors, big fireballs (Nov 4–12)
Both Taurid branches are active, and 2025 is another “Taurid swarm” year—years when larger, brighter meteoroids near a 7:2 resonance with Jupiter can spike fireball counts in early November. Peaks cluster around Nov 5 (Southern Taurids) and Nov 11–12 (Northern Taurids). Note, however, that the Southern Taurid peak coincides with the full Moon, which will wash out fainter meteors; Northern Taurids benefit from darker skies later in the week. Expected ZHRs are low (≈5/h), but what the Taurids lack in numbers they make up for in bright, slow streaks. 2
How to watch: Go late evening through midnight. Look ~40° away from the radiant for longer trails; be patient—Taurids are about quality, not quantity. 8
Leonids: fast and crisp under dark skies (Nov 17)
The Leonids—famous for historic storms, though none is expected this year—peak around Nov 17 with a typical ZHR ~15. The waning crescent Moon rises late, so prime hours after midnight are nicely dark. In 2025, modelers place the broad maximum around 18:00 UTC on the 17th (check a world time converter). Expect swift, fine meteors radiating from Leo near the Sickle asterism. 3
Alpha Monocerotids: the wild card (Nov 21)
Normally a faint trickle, the Alpha Monocerotids have produced brief, spectacular outbursts in rare years (e.g., 1995). For 2025, no special outburst is predicted; with New Moon just one day prior, conditions are dark if you want to try your luck. Peak timing falls Nov 21 (evening UTC; vary by location). 2
November Orionids: a minor encore (Nov 28)
The November Orionids are a genuine low‑key shower (ZHR ≈3). This year the first‑quarter Moon sets before midnight, so the early‑morning hours of Nov 28 are best. Manage expectations—and enjoy Orion glowing high with the Pleiades nearby. 6
Planets: Uranus at opposition, Jupiter bright, Saturn steady
- Uranus at opposition (Nov 21): Visible all night and at its brightest for the year in Taurus. At magnitude ~5.6, it’s a challenge for dark‑sky naked‑eye viewing but easy in binoculars as a tiny blue‑green disk (~3.8 arcseconds) in small telescopes. A near‑new Moon that week makes for ideal conditions. 4
- Jupiter: Dazzling in the evening sky and enters retrograde on Nov 11; watch the Moon–Jupiter pairing on Nov 10 for a striking naked‑eye scene. 9
- Saturn: Well placed after dusk in Aquarius; Moon–Saturn closes the month on Nov 29. Saturn’s 2025 retrograde ends Nov 28. 10
- Mercury & Mars: Mercury enjoys a brief evening stint early month (highest on Nov 2, dichotomy Nov 4). It meets Mars in a conjunction on Nov 12 very low in bright twilight—tough from mid‑northern latitudes. Mercury then zips to inferior conjunction on Nov 20. 11
Moon phases & photogenic pairings
- Full (Super) Moon:Nov 5, 13:19 UTC. New Moon:Nov 20, 06:47 UTC (and at apogee—often dubbed a “micro” new moon). First Quarter:Nov 28. 1
- Moon near the Pleiades (M45):Nov 6—a beautiful wide‑field binocular target. 7
- Lunar occultations: The Moon occults Elnath (β Tauri) for parts of South America & Africa on Nov 8, and Regulus (α Leonis) for parts of Russia/Greenland/eastern Greenland/Svalbard region overnight Nov 12–13. Outside those paths, many will still see a very close pass. 12
Why this month is special for meteor fans
Two factors line up in observers’ favor:
- Dark skies: The Leonids come days before New Moon, and Alpha Monocerotids fall just after. That minimizes moonlight during prime post‑midnight hours. 1
- Taurid “swarm” potential: The IMO notes 2025 as another Taurid swarm year, with enhanced odds of bright fireballs in early November—even if overall rates are low. 2
How to see and photograph November’s highlights
- Pick your timing: Meteor showers favor after midnight to dawn as your side of Earth faces the incoming stream. The supermoon is most dramatic near moonrise/moonset. 3
- Find darkness: Get away from city lights; give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt (avoid white‑light screens).
- Look ~40° off the radiant for longer meteor trails rather than staring right at it. 6
- Gear: Binoculars elevate Uranus, the Pleiades, and lunar details. Tripods help for phone photos of the Moon; try short exposures to keep lunar texture.
- Stay warm & patient: November nights are cold; plan for at least an hour outside for meteor watching.
Deep‑sky seasonal targets
With New Moon on Nov 20, it’s a perfect time to hunt northern autumn/winter showpieces: Pleiades (M45), Hyades, the Double Cluster, and, later at night, Orion Nebula (M42)—all stunning in binoculars. (Pleiades and Hyades are also flagged as well‑placed mid‑to‑late month.) 9
Sources & further reading
- Moon phases & special Moon labels (Super/Micro): Timeanddate.com; Full Moon at 13:19 UTC Nov 5, New Moon 06:47 UTC Nov 20, with “Super Full Moon” and “Micro New Moon” notes. 1
- Largest supermoon of 2025 coverage: Space.com and The Guardian provide day‑of viewing context and brightness/size comparisons. 13
- Meteor shower science & forecasts:International Meteor Organization 2025 Calendar (Taurid swarm note; Leonids free of moonlight), American Meteor Society shower details and ZHRs, and EarthSky Leonids timing. 2
- Monthly event list & planetary data: In‑The‑Sky.org (Uranus opposition specifics; Moon conjunctions & occultations; Mercury/Mars events; November Orionids). 4
Final word
From the biggest supermoon of 2025 to a dark‑sky Leonids and Uranus at opposition, November offers something for every skywatcher—naked eye, binocular, or telescope. Mark the dates, mind the Moon, and enjoy crisp, long nights under the stars.
