Five Autumn Sky Events: From Meteor Showers to Supermoons

As the northern hemisphere experiences longer nights this autumn, skywatchers are presented with a compelling lineup of celestial spectacles. According to the BBC, the season features a diverse array of events ranging from prominent star clusters and intense meteor showers to a rare planetary alignment and a supermoon.

The viewing calendar opens with the Pleiades, also recognized as the Seven Sisters or Messier 45. Located in the constellation Taurus, this young star cluster sits approximately 440 light years from Earth. While the name suggests seven visible stars, most observers can only spot around six without aid, though binoculars or telescopes reveal many more. The cluster becomes increasingly prominent in the eastern sky as autumn evenings deepen.

Later in the season, the Orionid meteor shower will take center stage. Active from early October through November, its peak occurs around October 21. These meteors are produced when Earth crosses the debris trail left by Halley’s comet. As particles enter the atmosphere at high velocity, they ignite to create visible streaks radiating from the constellation Orion. Observers are advised to seek locations away from artificial light and allow time for their eyes to adjust.

Mid-November brings a notable planetary parade, with Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter aligning above the horizon before sunrise around November 14. Venus and Jupiter will be the most accessible targets due to their brightness, whereas Mercury remains difficult to spot because it stays low near the sun’s glare.

The Leonid meteor shower follows later in November, peaking around November 17. Originating from the constellation Leo, these meteors are among the fastest visible from Earth, traveling at roughly 70km per second. Under optimal dark-sky conditions, viewers may witness between 10 and 15 meteors per hour. The best viewing window is typically after midnight when Leo rises higher in the sky.

Concluding the series of events is November’s full moon, traditionally known as the Beaver Moon due to beaver activity during this period. On November 24, the moon will reach full phase as a supermoon, appearing larger and brighter because of its proximity to Earth. This event marks the start of a sequence of four supermoons that will continue into February 2027.