Nov 17–24
November 2026 brings a rare back-to-back celestial lineup across the United States: the fast Leonid meteor peak followed by the penultimate Full Supermoon of 2026 (ahead of the Dec 24 Cold Supermoon).
By Sustainability Awakening • Dr. Ahmad Mahmood
Source: US Naval Observatory & NASA 2026
Peak WindowNov 17–24, 2026
71 km/s
Debris from Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle slams into Earth's upper atmosphere at 71 km/s (158,000 mph) — producing some of the fastest, brightest green-blue meteor trails of the year.
Source: NASA Meteor Watch 2026
Best HoursMidnight to Dawn
15–20/hr
On Nov 17–18, the waxing quarter Moon sets around midnight local time — leaving dark, moonless skies across rural US locations during the prime pre-dawn Leonid window.
Source: American Meteor Society 2026
Dark-Sky Rate15–20 Meteors/Hr
Nov 11–12
Triggered by pebble-sized debris from Comet Encke, the Northern Taurids peak Nov 11–12 and remain active through mid-November, famous for slow, dazzling orange fireballs.
Source: IMO 2026 Sky Calendar
Parent BodyComet 2P/Encke
9:53 AM EST
November's Full Beaver Moon reaches exact peak illumination on Tuesday, Nov 24 at 14:53 UTC (9:53 a.m. EST), with dramatic moonrises on both Monday Nov 23 and Tuesday Nov 24.
Source: Almanac & TimeAndDate 2026
Best MoonriseDusk Nov 23 & 24
+14% Bigger
Because full phase coincides with lunar perigee (~360,000 km from Earth), the Beaver Supermoon appears up to 14% larger in diameter and 30% brighter than an apogee micromoon.
Source: NASA Lunar Reconnaissance
Coastal ImpactHigher Perigean Tides
Winter Prep
Algonquian and colonial traditions named November's full moon after North American beavers reinforcing lodges before winter freeze — a key seasonal marker for wetland ecosystems.
Source: Old Farmer's Almanac
Ecosystem RoleWetland Hydrology
Kp 5–7
With Solar Cycle 25 still producing coronal mass ejections in late 2026, geomagnetic storms (G1–G3) can push aurora visibility across 15+ northern-tier US states on clear November nights.
Source: NOAA SWPC 2026
Best DatesMid-Nov Moonless Nights
+9.6%/yr
Artificial skyglow is growing nearly 10% per year globally, disrupting nocturnal bird migration and hiding meteor showers. Switching outdoor LEDs to warm 2700K shielded fixtures restores visibility.
Source: DarkSky International 2026
Quick ActionShielded 2700K LEDs
120/hr
Right after November's Beaver Supermoon, December brings the year's strongest meteor shower — the Geminids (Dec 13–14, 2026) — under favorable waxing-crescent skies.
Source: NASA Sky Events 2026
Dec 13–14 PeakUp to 120 Meteors/Hr
50 States
Use our interactive US Aurora & Night Sky Viewing Tracker to check real-time NOAA Kp geomagnetic indices, state-by-state visibility latitudes, and dark-sky tips.
Source: Sustainability Awakening Tools
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