November and December 2023’s Astronomical Events

As the year comes to an end and our nights get longer, ‘tis the season to really appreciate the wonders above us. During our long and clear nights, this month has brought us some breathtaking sights including a full moon and several meteor showers! Hopefully, you were able to catch a glimpse of three major astronomical events this month: Jupiter in full view, the Leonid meteor shower, and the moon phases. 

On November 3, Jupiter was at its closest point to Earth (also called its Opposition), which made it the best night to observe. While it was visibly bright to the naked eye, the ‘Galilean Moons’ (Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto) were visible through binoculars. 

From the night of November 17 to the early hours of November 18, we saw the beautiful Leonid meteor shower reach its peak. The shower ran from November 6 to the 30, but on this particular night, we were able to see around 10 bright meteors every hour.

Finally, we saw November’s full moon on the evening of the 27. Called the Full Beaver Moon, it reached its brightest around 4 am and was a spectacular sight to see. Watch out for next month’s full moon arising on December 16th around 7 pm. 

Hopefully, you were able to see these wondrous astronomical events last month, but if not, get ready for what December holds in store. Just after sunset on December 4, look out for Mercury just above the horizon. That evening it will reach its Greatest Eastern Elongation from the sun, positioning it right there for us to see. We will also be able to observe the Geminids meteor shower during the early hours of the morning of December 14. Find a dark place between midnight and 3 am for optimal viewing. You may be able to see nearly 120 brightly coloured meteors per hour!

Get ready for all of these upcoming astronomical events and more; each one is unique and brings new beautiful sights to our sky.