November 2026 Skywatching: Venus, Mercury and Planet Pairings

Skywatching forecasts for November 2026 point to several planetary views, including Venus with the waning crescent Moon and Spica before sunrise on November 7, and Mars passing close to Jupiter on November 16.

Key details

• Venus is forecast to rise in the east-southeast before sunrise and become more prominent through the month.
• Mercury reaches inferior conjunction on November 4, then becomes visible in the eastern morning sky after the second week. It reaches greatest western elongation, about 20 degrees from the Sun, on November 20.
• Saturn remains visible in the evening. It crosses the southern meridian at about 9:45 p.m. at the start of the month and roughly two hours earlier by month’s end; its rings appear tilted about 6.5 degrees from the line of sight.
• Mars is forecast to pass about 1.2 degrees from Jupiter on November 16, then about 1.7 degrees from Regulus on November 26.
• Before dawn on November 29 and 30, the Moon, Jupiter, Regulus and Mars are forecast to span roughly 7 degrees in the east-northeast.
• Venus is predicted to reach magnitude −4.9 on November 29.
• Where daylight saving time applies, clocks should be set back one hour on November 1.

Venus, the waning crescent Moon and Spica are forecast to fit within about 2.5 degrees before sunrise on November 7.

Why it matters

The schedule gives observers several distinct opportunities across the month: Venus and two nearby objects low in the morning sky, two close planetary passes, and a four-object grouping before dawn at month’s end. The forecasts also place Saturn in the evening sky, giving observers a target outside the early-morning viewing window.

What happens next

November’s forecast offers morning and evening targets, with the final days bringing the Moon, Jupiter, Regulus and Mars together in the east-northeast. Which November sky event are you most interested in watching?