The night sky this week, November 13–20, 2026, has two particularly good reasons to head outside before sunrise. Mars and Jupiter stand just over a degree apart in Leo around November 15, while the Leonid meteor shower brings its annual peak a few mornings later. Venus and Mercury are also visible low in the eastern twilight. In the evening, Saturn, the Pleiades, and the Triangulum Galaxy offer targets for different kinds of equipment. The waxing Moon will make faint galaxies harder to find, but it sets early enough to leave useful dark hours for meteor watching.
November 13: Try for the Triangulum Galaxy, M33
The first challenge is M33, the Triangulum Galaxy, about 2.7 million light-years from Earth. Its integrated magnitude is roughly 6, yet that figure doesn't tell the whole story. M33 covers a broad stretch of sky, spreading its light so thinly that suburban observers may struggle to see it at all.
Look in Triangulum, roughly four degrees west-northwest of Alpha Trianguli. Binoculars or a low-power telescope can show a faint, diffuse patch under dark skies. Don't expect the spiral arms to jump into view. A clear, moonless sky matters more here than simply cranking up the magnification.
November 14: Venus and Mercury in the Morning Twilight
An hour or so before sunrise, Venus is unmistakable in the eastern sky, near Spica in Virgo. Mercury is lower and less forgiving: even when reasonably bright, it can disappear into the haze and growing twilight close to the horizon.
Find Venus first, then use a current sky chart to locate Mercury below and to one side. The planets' exact altitude and orientation depend on your latitude. A flat eastern horizon helps, but avoid sweeping around with binoculars once sunrise is approaching. Never point optical equipment anywhere near the Sun.
November 15: Mars and Jupiter Make a Close Pair
Mars and Jupiter pass within about 1.2 degrees of one another late on November 14, and the pairing is well placed before dawn on November 15 and 16. Look toward Leo in the eastern to southeastern sky. Jupiter is the brighter point; Mars has a noticeable orange-red tint. Regulus, Leo's brightest star, helps identify the surrounding constellation.
No telescope is necessary to enjoy the contrast. If you have one, turn it toward Jupiter. Its four large Galilean moons change position from night to night, and a shadow transit involving Io may be visible from favorable parts of North America during the early hours of November 15. Check a moon-position chart before trying to identify a tiny shadow against Jupiter's clouds.
November 16: Saturn and Titan After Dark
For an evening session, choose Saturn. The planet is bright enough to locate with the naked eye, while even a modest telescope should reveal its rings. Around November 16, its largest moon, Titan, appears close to the planet's southern side.
Don't confuse every nearby point of light with a moon. Background stars can share the field, and the fainter Saturnian satellites change position over the course of a night. Start by identifying Titan with an observing app; only then consider searching for Tethys, Dione, or Rhea.
November 17: The Pleiades Shine Despite Moonlight
The Moon reaches first quarter on November 17, making faint objects less rewarding early in the evening. The Pleiades (M45) are a better choice. This compact-looking group in Taurus is plainly visible to the naked eye, often as six or seven stars arranged like a miniature dipper.
Binoculars reveal many more members, and their wide field preserves the cluster's shape. A high-power telescope may show only a small portion at once. The delicate blue reflection nebulosity seen in photographs is much harder to detect visually and generally requires a very dark, transparent sky.
November 17–18: When Does the Leonid Meteor Shower Peak?
The main event is the 2026 Leonid meteor shower. The Leonids occur when Earth passes through debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. This year, the International Meteor Organization places the regular maximum on November 17 at 23:45 UTC, although models allow some variation.
For Northern Hemisphere observers, the predawn hours of November 17 and 18 are the practical viewing windows. By then, Leo has climbed higher and the Moon should have set in many locations. Meteor activity doesn't stop at a single instant, so a clear morning on either date is worth taking advantage of.
How to Watch the Leonids
Leave the telescope indoors. Find a dark, open location, dress for a cold November morning, and watch a large area of sky rather than staring directly at the radiant in Leo. Meteors can appear anywhere overhead; trails farther from the radiant often look longer.
Under ideal conditions, the expected zenithal hourly rate is around 15 meteors per hour. That isn't a promise of 15 visible meteors from your backyard. Light pollution, clouds, and the radiant's altitude can reduce the number considerably. Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adapt and plan to stay outside longer than a quick glance.
November 19–20: Track Venus, Then Return to Saturn
By November 19, Venus has shifted relative to Spica. Mercury is still in the morning sky, close to the eastern horizon. If you viewed the two planets earlier in the week, compare their positions against the same background stars; even a rough sketch can make the change noticeable.
On November 20, the waxing Moon moves through the same broad area of sky as Saturn and Neptune. Saturn remains the easy choice, with its rings and Titan visible through a telescope. Neptune is around magnitude 7.7 and needs an accurate chart and optical help, especially with moonlight nearby.
What Should You Watch This Week?
If you can make only one early-morning trip, aim for the Leonids on November 17 or 18, after local moonset. The Mars–Jupiter pairing is easier to catch from a light-polluted location, while Saturn and the Pleiades suit an evening at home. Save M33 for a dark site.
Before going out, check your own sunrise, moonset, and weather forecast. A time or altitude listed for one city won't describe the entire Northern Hemisphere.