A Glimmering Sky over New York City: Comets, Shooting Stars, and Celestial Wonders Abound in Late Fall
As November's chill sets in, the city that never sleeps is treated to a celestial showcase of breathtaking beauty and scientific intrigue. The late fall sky is ablaze with comets, shooting stars, constellations, and planets, beckoning stargazers to lace up their binoculars and hit the pavement.
For astrophysicist Jackie Faherty at the American Museum of Natural History, November marks a pivotal moment in the transition from autumn to winter. "November is where we can really start transitioning to the winter sky," she notes, pointing out Orion as a reliable winter constellation. The majestic hunter constellation is now prominent in the evening sky, its bright stars and gleaming belt serving as a beacon for stargazers.
Comet enthusiasts are in for a treat this month, with comets Lemmon and Swan making appearances in the night sky. Lemmon, in particular, is expected to reach its brightest point on November 8, with the naked eye able to spot it under dark skies. The comet boasts an impressive double tail stretching over 12 moon diameters, and its brightness can be spotted by sweeping binoculars across the southern horizon at dusk.
However, comets are notoriously finicky, and their visibility can shift suddenly. As Bart Fried, a member of the American Astronomical Society, puts it, "It's pretty bright. You just sweep around with your binoculars. You'll see it above the horizon." Nevertheless, patience is essential when tracking meteors – also known as shooting stars – which appear and vanish in an instant.
The Southern Taurids meteor shower peaks on November 4 and 5, while the Orionids fade out by November 7. The Northern Taurids will reach their peak on November 11 and 12, with a waning gibbous moon providing ideal viewing conditions for fireballs. And then there's the Leonids meteor shower, set to explode on November 16 and 17 under an almost completely dark waning crescent moon.
The stars themselves remain a highlight of any stargazing adventure, with Pegasus, Andromeda, and Pisces offering stunning views in the fall constellations. As Uranus reaches opposition on November 21, its proximity to Earth allows for a more intimate encounter with the seventh planet from the sun. The Amateur Astronomers Association is hosting a rescheduled Autumn Starfest event at Inwood Hill Park, where dozens of telescopes will be pointing at celestial objects like Saturn and the moon.
For those willing to venture out under the night sky, November offers an unparalleled array of opportunities for stargazing enthusiasts. Whether it's the thrill of spotting comets, the beauty of shooting stars, or the majesty of winter constellations, New York City's late fall skies promise a celestial spectacle not to be missed.
As November's chill sets in, the city that never sleeps is treated to a celestial showcase of breathtaking beauty and scientific intrigue. The late fall sky is ablaze with comets, shooting stars, constellations, and planets, beckoning stargazers to lace up their binoculars and hit the pavement.
For astrophysicist Jackie Faherty at the American Museum of Natural History, November marks a pivotal moment in the transition from autumn to winter. "November is where we can really start transitioning to the winter sky," she notes, pointing out Orion as a reliable winter constellation. The majestic hunter constellation is now prominent in the evening sky, its bright stars and gleaming belt serving as a beacon for stargazers.
Comet enthusiasts are in for a treat this month, with comets Lemmon and Swan making appearances in the night sky. Lemmon, in particular, is expected to reach its brightest point on November 8, with the naked eye able to spot it under dark skies. The comet boasts an impressive double tail stretching over 12 moon diameters, and its brightness can be spotted by sweeping binoculars across the southern horizon at dusk.
However, comets are notoriously finicky, and their visibility can shift suddenly. As Bart Fried, a member of the American Astronomical Society, puts it, "It's pretty bright. You just sweep around with your binoculars. You'll see it above the horizon." Nevertheless, patience is essential when tracking meteors – also known as shooting stars – which appear and vanish in an instant.
The Southern Taurids meteor shower peaks on November 4 and 5, while the Orionids fade out by November 7. The Northern Taurids will reach their peak on November 11 and 12, with a waning gibbous moon providing ideal viewing conditions for fireballs. And then there's the Leonids meteor shower, set to explode on November 16 and 17 under an almost completely dark waning crescent moon.
The stars themselves remain a highlight of any stargazing adventure, with Pegasus, Andromeda, and Pisces offering stunning views in the fall constellations. As Uranus reaches opposition on November 21, its proximity to Earth allows for a more intimate encounter with the seventh planet from the sun. The Amateur Astronomers Association is hosting a rescheduled Autumn Starfest event at Inwood Hill Park, where dozens of telescopes will be pointing at celestial objects like Saturn and the moon.
For those willing to venture out under the night sky, November offers an unparalleled array of opportunities for stargazing enthusiasts. Whether it's the thrill of spotting comets, the beauty of shooting stars, or the majesty of winter constellations, New York City's late fall skies promise a celestial spectacle not to be missed.
And comets and shooting stars are so finicky, you'll never actually see them, unless you're out in the middle of nowhere with no city lights to disturb your view... then again, maybe that's kinda cool? 
It's like, if I want to see a comet, I should just go to some random field in the middle of nowhere and hope it doesn't disappear on me. 
But at the same time, having all these amazing celestial bodies in the sky is pretty awesome... unless you're actually trying to see them, then it's kinda hard, right? 
its gonna burn out like every other comet lol and what's up with stargazers always saying "sweep across the horizon" sounds like something out of a bad sci-fi movie 
anyone can spot it under dark skies tho
i mean comets lemmont & swan r both gonna be lit this month, lemmon gets bright on nov 8 lol dont @ me 
and november 4-5 is peak southern taurids meteor shower u can catch like a million shooting stars under the sky 
patience tho coz they come & go fast as uranus opposes on nov 21 u should totes check out amateur astronomers assoc event at inwood hill park for some stellar views of saturn & moon 
i've been trying to catch the southern taurids meteor shower but apparently it happened on nov 4-5 so i'm like an hour late lol 
anyway, has anyone seen any good celestial sightings in new york city lately? 
And who knows, maybe you'll even spot Uranus? It's always a thrill to see the stars up close 
u can literally see it in da evening sky!