Visible planets – and more – in November 2021

Find these visible planets in November 2021: Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Uranus and Neptune

Try Stellarium for a precise view from your location.

For more specific information on planet rise and set times from your location, consult either The Old Farmer’s Almanac (U.S. and Canada) or timeanddate.com (worldwide); or see EarthSky’s list of recommended almanacs.

Visible planets, the moon and more

The old moon and Mercury will appear close together on the mornings of November 1, 2 and 3, 2021. The stars Arcturus and Spica may also be visible at either side of Mercury. Mercury will be 1.2 degrees south of the moon on November 3, 2021, at 19:00 UTC. Read more about Mercury and the moon before sunup November 1, 2, and 3.

In 2021, the 7th planet Uranus reaches opposition on November 4-5 (November 5 at 0 UTC). The planet is theoretically visible to the eye alone, but requires a dark sky to be seen. In 2021, the Head of the Whale in the constellation Cetus – 5 stars in a pentagon – is near Uranus on the sky’s dome. The most noticeable object in this region of sky is the Pleiades star cluster. The Whale’s Head is to the right (south). Read more about Uranus at opposition.

View larger. | Throughout September, October and November 2021, the dwarf planet Ceres (inside yellow circle) will be meandering in front of Taurus the Bull. Ceres is cutting across the V-shaped Hyades star cluster in Taurus before its opposition on November 27, 2021. Chart via Dominic Ford/ TheSkyLive. Early November will bring an especially close approach between the bright star Aldebaran in the Hyades – and Ceres. Read more about Ceres and Aldebaran here.

New moon is November 4, 2021 at 21:14 UTC. Then the young moon – a waxing crescent – returns to the west after sunset. You might see it on November 6. You will see it near dazzling Venus, if your western sky is clear to the horizon, on the evenings of November 7 and 8, 2021. Venus is 1.1 degrees S of the moon on November 8 at 5 UTC. An occultation takes place (the moon covers Venus) for parts of Asia.

The waxing crescent moon will sweep past Saturn and Jupiter on the evenings of November 9, 10 and 11, 2021. Saturn is 4 degrees N. of the moon on November 10 at 14 UTC. Jupiter 4 degrees N. of the moon on November 11 at 17 UTC. Also watch for dazzling Venus, to the west. By the end of November, Saturn will be about midway between Jupiter and Venus.

Throughout the northern autumn months, watch for the zodiacal light before sunrise. The zodiacal light will appear as a pyramid of light on the eastern horizon, before true dawn, in a dark sky. It’s sometimes called the “false dawn.” This eerie light is sunlight reflecting from dust grains that move in the plane of our solar system. Image via our friend Jeff Dai. Southern Hemisphere? Look west after sunset for the zodiacal light in spring. Read more about the zodiacal light.

Planets in November 2021

Also see the indispensable Observer’s Handbook, from the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada

Venus is fresh from its October 29 greatest elongation (its greatest distance from the sun on our sky’s dome for this evening apparition) when November begins. The brightest planet is easily seen from across Earth throughout November, 2021.

For Southern Hemisphere skywatchers, this is an excellent to time to view Venus. Try the evening of November 6, when the moon will be a very slim crescent, just above the sunset point. By the evening of November 7, the moon will be a fatter crescent, setting longer after the sun, very near Venus. On the next evening, November 8, the star-forming nebula M8 might be in reach, with optical aid. It’ll be glowing subtlely just beyond the moon’s dark side. Binoculars will enhance the scene.

For Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, the planet will appear lower in the sky, more to one side (the left side) of the sunset. But Venus will still be a dazzling light in sunset direction throughout November, 2021. You’ll also see the moon slide past Venus on the evenings of November 7 and 8, 2021. Northern viewers might see the very thin waxing crescent moon on November 6 as well. For a special view, use binoculars to place the moon and Venus in the same field. You’ll also see earthshine, a mysterious glow on the moon’s night side.

For us on the northern half of Earth’s globe, the view of Venus will improve throughout November. That seems paradoxical since Venus has reached the end of its tether with respect to the sun; its distance from the sun is now decreasing. Yet the view improves because, as Earth moves around the sun, the evening angle of the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets in our sky – is shifting upward. The effect is to carry Venus higher in the west after sunset.

Jupiter is the 2nd-brightest starlike object in the November evening sky (only Venus appears as a brighter “star”). Jupiter is still near Saturn in the sky, nearly a year after their late 2020 great conjunction. Watch for Jupiter and Saturn near the moon on November 9, 10 and 11, 2021.

We call Jupiter the king of the planets, because it’s the largest planet in our solar system. It’s second only to Venus in brightness among the planets, and among the stars in the November sky. In November 2021, Jupiter is in front of the stars of eastern Capricornus. For people with very good eyesight and who are in a dark site away from city lights, look just below Jupiter for two dim stars, Deneb Algiedi (aka Delta Caprcorni) and Nashira (aka Gamma Capricorni). Binocular users will have no trouble seeing them. Throughout November, Jupiter moves eastward every night, leaving these two stars behind as December approaches.

Saturn is fainter than Jupiter, but brighter than most stars. It’s golden in color and shines with a steady light. Saturn can be overlooked. But it’s easy to identify. Simply fully extend your arm and make a fist. Place bright Jupiter on the left side, and Saturn will be the object on the right side.

As with Jupiter, Saturn can be seen in November 2021 moving in front of the background stars of Capricornus. Those people using only their eyes and who have very good eyesight, as well as binocular users, will see Saturn sliding below the dim star Upsilon Capricorni throughout November.

All month long, watch Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter. The two giant planets move towards brilliant Venus. By the end of November, Saturn will sit nearly midway between Jupiter and Venus, forming planetary bookends!

On any evening in November 2021, you can see 3 bright planets in the evening sky. They are Venus (brightest and closet to the sunset point), Jupiter (2nd-brightest) and Saturn. All 3 are very bright and noticeable. Plus the follow the ecliptic – sun’s path – across our sky. Jupiter and Saturn appear to move toward Venus throughout November. When November ends, the 3 planets will appear noticeably close, with Saturn midway between Jupiter and Venus. Chart via Stellarium.

Mercury, the smallest planet and innermost to the sun, is now wrapping up a string of morning appearances which began in mid-October. Early risers can still spot it above the sunrise point during the first few days of November. At that point, it’ll be descending into the brightest twilight, towards the not-yet-risen sun. Mercury is sometimes difficult to identify. But, for Northern Hemisphere observers, the mornings of November 1, 2 and 3, 2021, provide a good opportunity for positively spotting the planet near the waning crescent moon, or “old” moon. The steep autumn angle of the ecliptic for us in this hemisphere will enhance the view. Look near the horizon for the thin crescent. Mercury will be the point of light just below it.

Here is a great way to start your day: Break out the binoculars to spot the little world and to examine the earthshine on the moon’s dark side.

Because of the tilt of the ecliptic, Southern Hemisphere viewers unfortunately won’t have a good view of Mercury or the moon on the November 3, or at any time during the October-November morning apparition of Mercury.

The moon will occult, or cover over Mercury, on November 3, 2021. The occultation will be visible from most of Canada and the northeastern United States. But it will be in daylight. This will be a challenging observation, and only veteran observers, with telescopes or other optical aid, will attempt it. A very clear sky will be essential!

Mars passed directly behind the sun on October 8, 2021. So it still appears too close to the sun to be seen. The Red Planet will return to the morning sky in late December to begin another long cycle of visibility. 2022 will be a pretty good year for Mars!

An almost-total eclipse of the moon November 18-19

An amazing partial lunar eclipse happens on the overnight of November 18. The moon enters the Earth’s umbral shadow at 2:19 a.m. EST on November 19. At 4:03 EST, it reaches mid-eclipse with 97% of the lunar disk being covered in the shadow. At some point after the moon begins to enter the shadow, the nearby and delicate Pleiades star cluster becomes visible. Before that point, it was lost in the bright moonlight. Near mid phase, the moon won’t appear black, but more of a dark red. The event ends at 5:47 EST before morning twilight takes hold.

A map of visibility for the November 18-19, 2021, partial lunar eclipse. Image via Fred Espenak. Also read Fred Espenak’s November 19 eclipse article at EarthSky. Find timing for your location at timeanddate.com.

For us in North America, the partial lunar eclipse will take place in the early morning on November 19, 2021. The moon will be high in North American skies, to the west. In this illustration, the white disks represent partially eclipsed moons. The maroon disk represents the moon at greatest eclipse, 97% covered by the Earth’s dark umbral shadow. Watch for the dipper-shaped Pleiades star cluster near the eclipsed moon. Chart by John Jardine Goss.

View larger. | This image depicts the moon’s path with respect to Earth’s umbral shadow (in red) and penumbral shadow (in gray). The labels P4, U4, Greatest, P1 and U1 relate to eclipse timings and are explained at EclipseWise.com. The eclipse is almost total, but a tiny portion of the moon’s face will remain outside the dark umbral shadow at mid-eclipse. Image via Fred Espenak. Read Fred Espenak’s November 19 eclipse article at EarthSky Find timing for your location at timeanddate.com.

Meteor showers in November

Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion, dots a backwards question mark of stars known as the Sickle. If you trace all the “shooting stars” from the Leonid meteor shower backward, they appear to radiate from this area of the sky. While no storm is predicted for the 2021 Leonids, you can still catch plenty of meteors between November 6 to 30. The meteor shower peaks the morning of November 17, 2021. Read more about the Leonids.

Some resources to enjoy

Try Try Stellarium or TheSkyLive for precise views from your location

Click here for recommended almanacs to find out precise rise and set times

Translate Universal Time (UTC) to your time

Read: Ecliptic is the sun’s path in our sky

Which ones are the visible planets?

In their outward order from the sun, the five bright planets are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. These are the planets easily visible without an optical aid. They’re the planets watched by our ancestors since time immemorial. These planets do appear bright in our sky. They are typically as bright as – or brighter than – the brightest stars. Plus, these relatively nearby worlds tend to shine with a steadier light than the distant, twinkling stars.

You can spot them, and come to know them as faithful friends, if you try.

Skywatcher. Image via Predrag Agatonovic.

Bottom line: All you need to know about how to find the bright planets of the solar system during the month of November 2021.

Don’t miss anything. Subscribe to EarthSky News by email

Visit EarthSky’s Best Places to Stargaze to find a dark-sky location near you.

Help EarthSky keep going! Donate now.

Post your planet photos at EarthSky Community Photos.

The post Visible planets – and more – in November 2021 first appeared on EarthSky.