Autumn stargazing features supermoon and planetary alignments

The autumn season offers several notable celestial events for stargazers. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Pleiades star cluster in the constellation Taurus becomes increasingly prominent.

Key lunar and planetary events include the Beaver supermoon, which is expected to peak on November 24. Additionally, a planetary parade in mid-November will feature Jupiter and Venus visible together. Around November 14, Mercury and Mars will appear before sunrise, followed shortly by a close pairing of Mars and Jupiter. Neptune will also reach opposition on September 26, providing an optimal window for viewing the planet at its brightest, though a telescope is required for observation.

Meteor activity includes the Orionid meteor shower, which is expected to peak around October 21 and 22. While the bright moon may impact visibility, the shower typically produces between 10 to 20 meteors per hour.