Kuwait skies set for meteor shower, planetary encounters and Beaver Moon
Skies over Kuwait are set for six notable astronomical events during November, including a new lunar crescent, a conjunction of Jupiter and Mars, the Leonid meteor shower, Mercury’s greatest western elongation, the Beaver Moon and Venus reaching its maximum brightness, according to the Al-Ujairi Scientific Center.
The events begin on November 9 with the birth of the crescent moon of Jumada Al-Thani at 10:03 am Kuwait time, when the moon aligns with the sun in the new moon phase.
On November 15, Jupiter and Mars will appear close together in the night sky as Jupiter passes 1 degree and 14 arcminutes south of Mars. The two planets will be visible from Kuwait City at 11:29 pm above the southeastern horizon, offering an opportunity for skywatchers to observe the planetary conjunction.
The Leonid meteor shower is expected to take place on November 17 and 18. The phenomenon occurs when small rocky and dusty particles left behind by a comet or asteroid enter Earth’s atmosphere, producing bright, fast-moving streaks of light across the sky.
Another highlight comes on November 20, when Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation, meaning it will appear at its farthest angular distance from the Sun. This provides a favorable opportunity to observe the planet in the morning sky.
On November 24, the Moon will reach its full phase while positioned in the constellation of Taurus. The November full moon is traditionally known as the Beaver Moon, a name originating from Native American traditions and associated with the time of year when beavers build their dams.
The month’s astronomical program concludes on November 27, when Venus reaches its greatest brightness during its morning appearance. With an apparent magnitude of -4.7, the planet will rise to approximately 39 degrees above the horizon from Kuwait City at sunrise, making it particularly prominent in the morning sky.
The six events offer astronomy enthusiasts and the public several opportunities throughout November to observe planetary movements, lunar phases and a meteor shower, highlighting the variety of celestial phenomena visible from Kuwait.
