Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Leonid meteor shower is expected to peak on November 17. This stream, with a radiant in the constellation Leo, typically produces 10-15 meteors per hour annually. No increased activity is predicted for this year. The shower's radiant rises high in the sky in the second half of the night and produces fast meteors.
Significant outbursts of the Leonid meteor shower, up to hundreds or even thousands of meteors per hour (storm level), are expected in the 2030s, associated with the return of the parent comet 55P/Swift-Tuttle in 2031. The shower is expected to be especially active in 2033, 2034 (a meteor storm is possible), 2035, and 2037.
Another meteor shower that can be observed throughout the night in November is the Taurids. It consists of two branches—a southern and a northern one. This is a relatively inactive shower, with meteors being quite slow. However, it has a very long activity period—from mid-September to the end of November, with no distinct peak. Peak activity, about 5-10 meteors per hour, is observed during October and the first half of November. The shower also occasionally produces bursts of fireball activity. This year, the fireball cloud is expected to return for about a week around November 3rd. This is attributed to the Earth passing through a cloud of larger particles within the shower.
In November, two other weak meteor showers can be observed: the Alpha Monocerotids and the November Orionids. The Alpha Monocerotids have a radiant in the constellation Monoceros, while the November Orionids have a radiant on the border of the constellations Orion, Taurus, and Gemini. The Alpha Monocerotids peak on November 21st, at up to 5 meteors per hour, although historically, this shower has produced brief bursts of up to 420 meteors per hour in 1995 and up to 120 meteors per hour in 2019. The next peak in activity is expected in 2043. This shower is visible mainly in the second half of the night.
The November Orionids have a peak activity of about 3 meteors per hour, and the peak itself is not pronounced; it occurs around November 28, the radiant culminates around 2 a.m. and is quite visible for most of the night.
Another interesting event worth noting is the expected occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon on November 6th. Unlike the September event, this will occur in the evening, at a slightly lower but still respectable altitude above the horizon, although during a fuller phase of the Moon.
Here are the coverage parameters of the brightest stars of the Pleiades for Novosibirsk:
Electra. Starts at 21:00:44, altitude 27°, ends at 21:48:41, altitude 34°.
Merope. Start: 21:24:42, altitude 30°, end: 22:14:21, altitude 37°.
Alcyone. Starts at 21:52:36, altitude 34°, ends at 22:48:16, altitude 42°.
Atlas. Start: 22:46:44, altitude 41°, end: 23:04:31, altitude 44°.
The rather bright comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS will also be visible again. This comet is approximately 9th or 10th magnitude, perhaps even 1-2 magnitudes brighter. The first photos after perihelion show that it has developed a rather long tail. It can be seen in amateur telescopes low above the horizon in the mornings from late October to early November. Then, after the lunar passage, when the comet can be observed without light pollution, from mid- to late November (and especially in the third ten-day period of November), it will be visible high in the sky for most of the night. However, since its culmination time will be in the second half of the night, it will be more visible during this period.
The Leonids should be observed in the second half of the night, from about 1-2 AM until the morning, with peak activity occurring on the night of November 17-18. It's best to observe from outside the city, away from light sources. The same applies to other meteor showers. Comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS will also be visible in the morning.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
