Four planets visible in November pre-dawn sky parade
Stargazers across the UK can observe a diagonal lineup of four planets in the pre-dawn eastern sky throughout November.
Mercury and Venus appear early
Mercury remains the hardest planet to spot because it stays locked in solar glare near the horizon. Observers should look south-east in a wide open sky with a flat horizon for the best chance. Venus appears above Mercury and is easily found as the brightest object after the Moon. It reflects more sunlight than any other major planet, making it stand out clearly before sunrise.
Mars and Jupiter conjunction details
The most notable event occurs on Monday 16 November when Mars and Jupiter appear exceptionally close together. Astronomer Gideon Bendavid-Walker from the Royal Observatory Greenwich states the planets will be separated by just 1.2 degrees. For viewers to gauge the distance, this space equals approximately the span of a finger held out at arm's length. The pair may even look like a triple star near the bright Regulus constellation.
Supermoon joins planetary lineup
From 24 November, a full Moon becomes visible as the first of four supermoons in this month's sequence. Additional planets like Uranus set in the west while Saturn and Neptune appear in the evening sky instead. Weather forecasts predict cloudy conditions on Saturday night but drier skies for Sunday viewing attempts.
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