Astrology

Mars and Jupiter approach a close conjunction in November's night sky.

Mars and Jupiter are drawing closer in the November night sky, with their closest apparent approach on the night of November 14-15, according to Yahoo News Canada. The meeting is a conjunction, when the planets appear close together in the sky. They will be separated by just over 1 degree, about the width of a pinky finger held at arm's length.

The planets are among several objects visible during a month that also includes meteor showers and a supermoon. Space places Mars and Jupiter near the Sickle of Leo before dawn, while Gothamist lists three meteor showers during November.

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Mars and Jupiter change places#

At the start of November, Mars rises around 1 a.m. local time, followed about 30 minutes later by Jupiter, Yahoo News Canada reports. The pair rises earlier each night, with Jupiter appearing progressively closer to Mars during the first two weeks of the month.

After the conjunction, Jupiter rises first and Mars follows, with their apparent separation growing through the rest of November, according to Yahoo News Canada. Space gives a different date for the planets' passing, placing it on November 16.

Saturn is visible in the southern sky during mid-to-late evening, Space reports. Space says Venus rises in the east-southeast before dawn, while Mercury appears to its lower left from midmonth through the end of November.

Leonid peak estimates differ#

The Leonid meteor shower is active from November 6 to 30, according to Baku State University's Department of Astrophysics, as cited by Report.az. The department puts its peak at 03:45 Baku time on November 18 and estimates about 15 meteors per hour.

The American Meteor Society lists the peak night as November 16-17, according to ShiftDelete.Net. WTOP News also places the peak on November 16-17, while Gothamist gives November 17-18. Report.az says the night of November 17-18 offers favorable conditions after the moon sets.

The Leonids occur as Earth passes through particles left by comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle, Report.az explains. Their radiant, the point from which the meteors appear to originate, lies in the constellation Leo, although the streaks can appear across different parts of the sky.

A supermoon follows the showers#

Gothamist lists the Southern Taurids' peak on November 4-5 and the Northern Taurids' peak on November 12-13. It puts the Southern Taurids' rate at about five meteors per hour and says the Northern Taurids produce a similar display.

A supermoon is due on November 23-24, according to Gothamist. The term describes a moon at or near its closest position to Earth in its oval-shaped orbit. Gothamist says the next supermoon falls on Christmas Eve and is the final one of the year.

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