November's Celestial Highlights: Rare Occultation of Spica, Planetary Encounters, and NASA’s Historic Solar Mission

November brings a host of remarkable celestial events for skywatchers across North America and beyond. With planetary lineups, a rare occultation of the bright star Spica, and a historic maneuver by NASA’s Parker Solar Probe, this month promises excitement for anyone who gazes up at the night sky.

Planetary Highlights: Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus

Throughout November, the planets will be prominently visible, each offering unique viewing opportunities:

Saturn graces the southern sky for most of the night. On November 10, Saturn will pair closely with the Moon, separated by less than a degree. Observing with binoculars will offer a fantastic view of the ringed planet alongside the Moon.

Jupiter rises in the east in the early evening and continues across the night sky, accompanied by the stars of Taurus and Orion. By month’s end, Jupiter will appear shortly after dark, providing bright views until dawn.

Mars follows Jupiter’s path, rising roughly three hours after the giant planet. Early risers will find Mars high overhead in the morning sky before dawn, showing its distinctive red hue.

Venus shines brightly in the southwestern sky after sunset. On November 4, a slender crescent Moon will join Venus, creating a stunning evening display. In the Southern Hemisphere, Venus appears even higher, and Mercury also becomes visible near sunset.

Parker Solar Probe’s Historic Flyby of Venus

A notable event in space exploration is happening on November 6, when NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will conduct a close flyby of Venus. This final Venus encounter will adjust the probe’s orbit, setting it on a path for its closest-ever approach to the Sun starting on December 24.

Since its launch in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe has made several close passes by the Sun, providing unprecedented insights into solar dynamics. It studies the solar corona, the Sun’s outer atmosphere, and measures solar wind particles as it travels within 4 million miles of the Sun’s surface. This month’s Venus flyby is the last in a series that allows the probe to shape its orbit, drawing nearer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft.

During its Venus encounters, Parker has returned intriguing images of Venus, revealing surface features through the planet’s dense cloud cover. Skywatchers should keep an eye on Venus this month, knowing it’s playing a vital role in this daring mission.

Don’t Miss the Lunar Occultation of Spica

In the pre-dawn hours of November 27, skywatchers in parts of the U.S. and Canada will have the rare opportunity to witness a lunar occultation of Spica. This event, where the Moon passes directly in front of the bright star Spica, temporarily hiding it from view, is part of a series of occultations that began in June 2024 and will continue monthly until late next year.

Observers in the eastern U.S. and Canada will have the best view, as the Moon obscures Spica in a dazzling celestial moment. For those outside this region, the Moon will appear to pass extremely close to Spica without fully covering it.

This occultation series is due to the Moon’s orbit slowly shifting across the sky, allowing it to occasionally align with Spica’s position. After this November event, North American skywatchers won’t have another chance to see the Moon occult Spica until 2032, making this a must-see event.

Skywatching Tips for November

To get the best views of these celestial events, consider the following tips:

Use binoculars for close-up views of Saturn’s rings, the crescent Moon near Venus, and the lunar occultation of Spica.

Watch for planetary conjunctions in the early morning and evening skies. Look south for Saturn, east for Jupiter and Mars, and southwest for Venus.

Set an early alarm for November 27 if you’re in the eastern U.S. or Canada to witness the occultation of Spica.

With planetary shows, a lunar occultation, and a milestone mission in solar exploration, November offers an abundance of reasons to spend time under the night sky.