November is the time of year when Jupiter gets big and bright at night, but sky watchers can also catch more sparkles via the Taurids and Leonids meteor showers. Amid the shine and space glitter, the Perseus family of constellations will also reach their peak settings this month.
Starting the month off with its annual oohs and ahs, Jupiter will be at perigee — its closest point to Earth — the evening between Nov. 1 and 2. The following night, the red-spotted planet will be at opposition when the Earth orbits into position between it and the sun. Jupiter will be fully illuminated by the sun at its closest approach to Earth, but it will be hard to miss in the night sky all this month even without a telescope.
The events will give pristine views of the solar system’s largest planet.
“If you’re in the city and you just happen to be on your roof, or if you happen to be on a street corner, you can use your telescope and point straight at Jupiter and you should be able to see it with no issue,” said Kat Troche, vice president of operations for the Amateur Astronomers Association of New York.
Part of the Taurids will peak later in the week — on the night between Nov. 5 and 6, while the other portion peaks between Nov. 11 and 12, according to the American Meteor Society.
By mid-November, another meteor shower will fly over town. The Leonids peak between Nov. 17 and 18.
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