See Jupiter, its moons and its atmospheric features through a telescope this month.
Observing the planets in November 2024 – best ones to see and when they’re visible
Our pick of the planets for November 2024 is Uranus, as the ice giant reaches opposition on 17 November 2024, and will be shining at mag. +5.6 in Taurus.
Uranus is extremely well placed from the UK and is theoretically visible to the naked eye.
You’ll need good eyesight and dark skies, but now – while it’s at opposition brightness – is a good time to see whether you can indeed spot Uranus with the naked eye.
Find out more in our guide on observing Uranus at opposition, November 2024.
More on planet observing
Visible planets, November 2024
Uranus
- Best time to see: 17 November, 00:00 UT
- Altitude: 56°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: South
- Features: Colour, subtle banding through larger instruments, main moons
- Recommended equipment: 150mm scope or larger
Mercury
- Best time to see: 15 November, 25 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 1° (extremely low)
- Location: Ophiuchus
- Direction: Southwest
Mercury is an evening object poorly positioned for the first half of November and not visible from the UK. Greatest eastern elongation occurs on 15 November, when mag. –0.2 Mercury sets just 40 minutes after the Sun. By 30 November, having dimmed to mag. +1.9, it sets 35 minutes after sunset.
Venus
- Best time to see: 30 November, 50 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 10°
- Location: Sagittarius
- Direction: South-southwest
Evening planet Venus shines at mag. –3.9 on 1 November, setting 90 minutes after the Sun. By the end of the month, mag. –4.0 Venus sets nearly 3 hours after sunset and is better presented. A very low-altitude waxing crescent Moon passes south of Venus on the evenings of 4 and 5 November.
Mars
- Best time to see: 1 November, 21:15 UT
- Altitude: 35°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
Mars reaches its highest position 60° above the southern horizon under true darkness. Telescopically, mag. +0.1 Mars appears 9 arcseconds across on 1 November, brightening to mag. –0.5 and appearing 11 arcseconds across by 30 November. Rising early evening, on 20 November, Mars is located 1.7° below the centre of the 70%-lit waning gibbous Moon, both objects rising around 21:00 UT. On 30 November, Mars sits 2° from the centre of the Beehive Cluster, M44.
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 30 November, 00:40 UT
- Altitude: 59°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: South
Jupiter reaches opposition on 7 December 2024. At the start of November, after rising around 18:30 UT, it climbs to a peak of 60° at 02:43 UT, appearing as a mag. –2.5 object among the stars of Taurus. Catch it rising with the 94%-lit waning Moon early evening on 17 November. On 30 November, just a week before opposition, it appears very bright at mag. –2.7, reaching peak altitude around 00:30 UT.
Saturn
- Best time to see: 1 November, 20:20 UT
- Altitude: 28°
- Location: Aquarius
- Direction: South
Mag. +0.5 Saturn is visible as soon as darkness falls, reaching a peak of 30° on 1 November around 20:30 UT. A 68%-lit waxing gibbous Moon sits 2.7° southwest at 22:30 UT on 10 November, slowly approaching the planet as setting approaches in the early hours of 11 November.
Neptune
- Best time to see: 1 November, 21:15 UT
- Altitude: 35°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: South
Neptune reaches its peak altitude of 35° under dark-sky conditions all month. At mag. +7.8, a small scope shows its tiny disc and blue hue. On 12 November, it sits 1.2° east-northeast of a 79%-lit Moon just before moonset.
If you’re observing or imaging the planets in November 2024, share your pics and observations with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com