 | | Created for znamenski.spacecom@blogger.com | Web Version | | | |  This week brings one of November's best sky shows: the Leonid meteor shower peaks under dark skies, offering up to 15 shooting stars per hour before dawn. A few days later, the new moon gives us ideal dark skies for trying to find Uranus as it reaches opposition on Friday (Nov. 21) and shines bright enough to spot with binoculars just beneath the Pleiades.
Beyond the night sky highlights, we've also got some excellent reads for you. Don't miss our piece on how solar storms threaten your nuts, a look into what geomagnetic activity means for GPS, agriculture and even your peanut butter sandwich. If you're new to astronomy, we've put together a comprehensive beginner's guide with top tips from experts to help you get started under the stars.
Here's what to watch for this week, Clear skies,
Daisy Dobrijevic
Reference Editor | |  | | (Starry Night) | The Leonids reach their peak with up to 15 meteors per hour as Earth plows through Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle's debris. Best viewing comes before dawn on Nov. 18 when Leo is high in the southeast. | |  | | (Starry Night) | The new moon brings the darkest skies of the month, perfect for spotting faint nebulas and galaxies. The moon will then return to the evening sky later this week as a delicate crescent. | |  | | (Starry Night) | Uranus reaches its closest point to Earth this year, shining at magnitude 5.6 and visible in binoculars or small telescopes. Look just below the Pleiades in Taurus to spot its tiny blue-green glow. | |  | | (Starry Night) | The Mare Crisium, a dark oval near the moon's eastern edge, stands out beautifully in the young lunar crescent. Binoculars will reveal its distinct oval basin. | | | The new moon on Nov. 20 marks the darkest nights of the month, ideal for stargazing and astrophotography. With no moonlight to wash out fainter objects, it's a perfect window for observing the Milky Way, open clusters and galaxies through binoculars or a small telescope. | | | | For North America, the best time to look will be before dawn on Tuesday, Nov. 18. | | | | Solar storms don't just trigger impressive auroras; they can scramble the GPS systems U.S. farmers rely on. | | | Astronomers and expert stargazers share their top skywatching tips for beginners. | | | | The latest aurora forecast for tonight help you make sure you're in the right place at the right time to see the northern lights. | | | | "This is one of my favourite galaxies for testing new equipment." | | | | Astronomy Kit and Accessories | | The 100AZ is our best telescope for beginners and kids, with a host of user-friendly features that make viewing the moon and planets a breeze. Now, with $106 off, it's also a bargain telescope buy. | | | We put the Kenko VC Smart Cellarto 10x30 WP through their paces to find out if these image-stabilized smart binoculars live up to their name. | | | | Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. | |  | |  | Follow Night Sky This Week |  |  |  |  | | | | | Future US LLC © | | Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036. | | | | |
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