Dear Stargazer Friends,
I hope you have been well. The Astronomical Calendar November 2021 is now ready with plenty of fascinating events to observe this month – as always, weather permitting.
On 18/19 November 2021 a Partial Lunar Eclipse will darken the Moon. Best location to see the entirety of this eclipse is North America. From Western Europe, the penumbra will be visible for a short time before the Moon sets on 19 November.
Comet C/2021 A1 (Leonard) is currently visible in the constellation of Ursa Majoris. Best to be observed now until early December. After that it will become unobservable (from Switzerland). In addition, Asteroid Ceres will appear close to the star Aldebaran in the constellation of Taurus on 5 and 6 November 2021 (look East in the evening).
Planet Mercury is now visible in the early mornings while Venus is observable for a short moment in the evening twilight. Jupiter and Saturn are still observable, as well as Uranus and Neptune. If you have a true horizon, watch out for Mars who will become a morning Planet starting 13 November.
Some beautiful Open Star Clusters are now observable in the evening such as the Hyades in Taurus and of course the Pleiades. Later in the night, the Beehive Cluster (below Sirius). You’ll find more exhaustive lists of interesting celestial objects below.
I hope you’ll enjoy the journey and please come back for the December issue.
Clear skies and best wishes!
Isa

Meteor showers in November (and December) 2021
The Leonids will reach maximum peak on 18 November – unfortunately, this will be around Full Moon:
Shower | Activity Period | Maximum | Radiant | ||
Date | S. L. | R.A. | Dec. | ||
Leonids (LEO) | Nov 03-Dec 02 | Nov 18 | 236.0° | 10:16 | +21.6° |
Geminids (GEM) | Nov 13-Dec 22 | Dec 14 | 262°5 | 07:36 | +32.2° |
Moon phases November 2021
Phase | Date |
New Moon | 04 November, 22:14 |
First Quarter | 11 November, 13:45 |
Full Moon (Micro Full Moon & Partial lunar eclipse) | 19 November, 09:57 |
Third Quarter | 27 November, 13:27 |
Moon conjunctions with Planets
3 November: The waning crescent Moon will be visible for a short time before sunrise near Mercury on the east-southeastern horizon. As far as I am aware, an ISS pass is scheduled to be visible in this area of the sky – check at around 06:20 (Switzerland).
7 November evening twilight: look for the Crescent Moon appearing close to Venus (SW).

10 – 11 November: Moon appears to pass near Saturn and Jupiter.
Partial Lunar Eclipse on 19 November
On 19 November (overnight on 18 November 2021 for North America), a partial lunar eclipse will darken the moon. Best location to see the entirety of the eclipse (up to 97%) is North America. From Western Europe, the Penumbral Lunar Eclipse (local type; Moon moves through the faint, outer part of Earth’s shadow, the penumbra) will be visible for a short time before the Moon sets. Here are the times for Bern, Switzerland:
Local Type: Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Begins: 19 November 2021, 07:02
Maximum: 19 November 2021, 07:32 -0.648 Mag
Ends: 19 November 2021, 07:36Duration: 34 minutes
Check your local time on timeanddate https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2021-november-19
Comets
Ephemeris for C/2021 A1 (Leonard)
Comet C/2021 A1 (Leonard) is currently visible in the constellation of Ursa Majoris. Best time to observe it is from now till early December when it will become unobservable (from Switzerland)
Source: In-The-Sky.org
Watch out for 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in the constellation of Gemini – it will peak at mag 8.3 on 8 November 2021.
C/2019 L3 (ATLAS) – mag 10.3 in the constellation of Lynx (will peak on 6 Jan 2022)
4P/Faye – mag 10.5 in the Constellation of Monoceros (will peak at mag 10.4 on 11 November 2021
Source: In-The-Sky.org https://in-the-sky.org/data/comets.php
Asteroid Ceres in Taurus
Asteroid Ceres will appear close to Aldebaran in Taurus on 5 and 6 November 2021.

Planets
For local times go to In-The-Sky.org
Mercury (Constellation of Virgo) observable until 6 November for a very short time in the early morning hours before sunrise.
Venus is currently in the constellation of Ophiuchus and will move into Sagittarius on 3 November 2021. On 1 November, becomes visible at around 17:36 and until 18:03 10° above the south-western horizon. On 30 November, it will be visible from 17:07 until 18:15.
Mars is currently not observable from Bern, Switzerland. If you live in a country with a true horizon, look at the east-southeastern horizon as morning twilights begins starting 13 November.
Jupiter is visible all month in the constellation of Capricornus – although the best period to observe it will be over on 15 November.
Saturn appears in the constellation of Capricorn and is observable all month.
Uranus is observable in the constellation of Aries – mag around 5.7 (all night).
Neptune is observable all month in the Constellation of Aquarius and visible all month (first part of the night).
Bright (Double) Stars
Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set |
Sirius | -1.45 | 22h47m | 3h36m | +26°20’18.38″ | 8h25m |
Vega | 0.00 | 5h18m | 15h25m | +81°51’21.94″ | 1h33m |
Capella | 0.05 | — | 2h08m | +89°03’52.99″ | — |
Procyon | 0.40 | 22h04m | 4h30m | +48°14’05.47″ | 10h57m |
Betelgeuse | 0.45 | 20h09m | 2h46m | +50°28’32.97″ | 9h22m |
Aldebaran | 0.85 | 18h07m | 1h27m | +59°36’48.72″ | 8h46m |
Pollux | 1.15 | 20h12m | 4h37m | +71°01’41.98″ | 13h01m |
Deneb | 1.25 | — | 17h30m | +88°22’54.17″ | — |
Regulus | 1.35 | 0h03m | 7h00m | +54°55’20.88″ | 13h56m |
Adhara | 1.50 | 0h10m | 3h49m | +14°06’51.69″ | 7h29m |
Bellatrix | 1.60 | 19h44m | 2h16m | +49°26’04.66″ | 8h48m |
Elnath | 1.65 | 17h48m | 2h17m | +71°40’53.88″ | 10h46m |
Alnilam | 1.65 | 20h28m | 2h27m | +41°52’53.88″ | 8h26m |
Mirfak | 1.75 | — | 0h15m | +87°00’43.12″ | — |
Alioth | 1.75 | — | 9h46m | +81°05’39.86″ | — |
Alnitak | 1.85 | 20h35m | 2h31m | +41°08’20.78″ | 8h27m |
Menkalinan | 1.90 | — | 2h51m | +87°59’43.69″ | — |
Alhena | 1.90 | 20h10m | 3h29m | +59°26’27.91″ | 10h47m |
Castor | 1.90 | 19h32m | 4h26m | +74°53’38.03″ | 13h19m |
Polaris | 1.95 | — | 23h48m | +47°36’28.66″ | — |
Mirzam | 1.95 | 22h30m | 3h13m | +25°07’11.86″ | 7h57m |
Dubhe | 2.00 | — | 7h55m | +75°18’44.53″ | — |
Alpheratz | 2.05 | 12h25m | 20h58m | +72°15’28.18″ | 5h31m |
Mirach | 2.05 | 12h30m | 22h00m | +78°46’25.45″ | 7h29m |
Algol | 2.05 | 13h09m | 23h59m | +84°03’04.54″ | 10h48m |
Kochab | 2.05 | — | 11h42m | +62°53’13.55″ | — |
Navi | 2.15 | — | 21h47m | +76°06’41.06″ | — |
Almach | 2.15 | 11h06m | 22h54m | +85°26’36.64″ | 10h42m |
Shedar | 2.20 | — | 21h30m | +80°17’02.91″ | — |
Algieba | 2.20 | 23h36m | 7h11m | +62°47’17.91″ | 14h47m |
Mizar | 2.20 | — | 10h16m | +82°07’13.58″ | — |
Eltanin | 2.20 | — | 14h45m | +85°27’41.24″ | — |
Caph | 2.25 | — | 20h59m | +77°40’14.49″ | — |
Galaxies
Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set |
M 31 (Andromeda Galaxy) | 3.44 | 10h34m | 21h33m | +84°24’48.59″ | 8h31m |
M 33 (Triangulum Galaxy) | 5.72 | 13h39m | 22h24m | +73°48’51.54″ | 7h09m |
M 81 (Bode’s Galaxy) | 6.94 | — | 6h48m | +67°59’24.84″ | — |
M 101 (Pinwheel Galaxy) | 7.86 | — | 10h55m | +82°41’02.72″ | — |
M 110 | 8.07 | 10h18m | 21h30m | +84°49’42.32″ | 8h42m |
M 32 | 8.08 | 10h44m | 21h33m | +84°00’42.08″ | 8h21m |
M 51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) | 8.10 | — | 10h22m | +89°25’07.08″ | — |
M 82 (Cigar Galaxy) | 8.41 | — | 6h48m | +67°22’34.37″ | — |
M 106 | 8.41 | — | 9h11m | +89°26’53.97″ | — |
Clusters of Galaxies
Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set |
Abell 779 | 11.50 | 21h02m | 6h11m | +76°43’06.07″ | 15h20m |
Abell 194 (Cetus Cluster) | 11.60 | 16h17m | 22h16m | +41°48’35.50″ | 4h15m |
Abell 569 | 11.80 | — | 4h01m | +88°21’03.67″ | — |
Open Star clusters
Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set |
C 41 (Hyades) | 0.50 | 18h02m | 1h18m | +58°58’36.19″ | 8h33m |
Cr 70 (Orion Belt Cluster) | 0.60 | 20h27m | 2h26m | +42°00’01.69″ | 8h26m |
M 45 (Pleiades) | 1.20 | 16h37m | 0h38m | +67°14’32.59″ | 8h38m |
Cr 39 (α Per Cluster) | 1.20 | — | 0h17m | +88°04’25.13″ | — |
LDN 962 | 2.00 | — | 17h51m | +88°36’44.38″ | — |
NGC 1980 (The Lost Jewel of Orion) | 2.50 | 20h47m | 2h26m | +37°10’20.56″ | 8h05m |
Cr 121 | 2.60 | 23h38m | 3h45m | +18°26’24.33″ | 7h52m |
Cr 69 (Orion Cluster) | 2.80 | 19h38m | 2h26m | +53°01’08.25″ | 9h14m |
Cr 65 | 3.00 | 19h01m | 2h16m | +58°46’49.84″ | 9h31m |
M 44 (Beehive Cluster) | 3.10 | 21h57m | 5h32m | +62°38’55.16″ | 13h06m |
IC 1396 (Elephant’s Trunk Nebula) | 3.50 | — | 18h28m | +79°21’33.59″ | — |
NGC 869 (Double Cluster) | 3.80 | — | 23h10m | +79°42’34.60″ | — |
NGC 884 (Double Cluster) | 3.80 | — | 23h13m | +79°42’48.47″ | — |
NGC 2232 (Double Wedge Cluster) | 3.90 | 21h34m | 3h18m | +38°18’04.27″ | 9h02m |
NGC 2264 (Christmas Tree Cluster) | 3.90 | 20h44m | 3h32m | +52°56’18.05″ | 10h19m |
Bright nebulae
Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set |
M 45 (Pleiades) | 1.20 | 16h37m | 0h38m | +67°14’32.56″ | 8h38m |
Ced 45 | 1.70 | 19h44m | 2h16m | +49°26’32.58″ | 8h48m |
Ced 55r (Orion Loop Nebula) | 1.91 | 20h23m | 2h36m | +45°07’08.52″ | 8h49m |
Ced 176a | 2.32 | 6h33m | 16h58m | +82°54’17.06″ | 3h23m |
Ced 176b | 2.32 | 7h25m | 18h02m | +83°30’44.06″ | 4h39m |
vdB 23 | 2.87 | 16h38m | 0h38m | +67°13’49.17″ | 8h38m |
IC 1396 (Elephant’s Trunk Nebula) | 3.50 | — | 18h28m | +79°21’33.59″ | — |
vdB 156 | 3.62 | 8h02m | 19h51m | +85°28’23.81″ | 7h40m |
vdB 20 | 3.71 | 16h35m | 0h35m | +67°14’22.76″ | 8h36m |
Ced 19o (Atlas Nebula) | 3.80 | 16h40m | 0h40m | +67°10’53.33″ | 8h40m |
NGC 1432 (Maia Nebula) | 3.88 | 16h36m | 0h37m | +67°19’32.90″ | 8h37m |
Ced 18b | 3.94 | 15h37m | 0h35m | +75°24’27.72″ | 9h32m |
M 42 (Great Orion Nebula) | 4.00 | 20h45m | 2h26m | +37°41’45.32″ | 8h07m |
NGC 7000 (North America Nebula) | 4.00 | — | 17h48m | +87°26’46.97″ | — |
NGC 1435 (Merope Nebula) | 4.18 | 16h37m | 0h37m | +67°01’33.25″ | 8h36m |
vdB 14 | 4.23 | — | 0h20m | +76°56’15.49″ | — |
vdB 30 | 4.30 | — | 1h46m | +70°34’35.59″ | — |
Ced 19e | 4.37 | 16h33m | 0h36m | +67°36’27.10″ | 8h38m |
Ced 95 | 4.40 | 0h04m | 4h09m | +18°05’45.94″ | 8h14m |
IC 448 | 4.48 | 20h49m | 3h25m | +50°20’53.72″ | 10h01m |
vdB 151 | 4.49 | 8h39m | 19h03m | +82°51’51.52″ | 5h28m |
vdB 49 | 4.50 | 20h08m | 2h30m | +47°12’01.05″ | 8h52m |
vdB 15 | 4.58 | — | 0h20m | +77°58’39.14″ | — |
Ced 84a | 4.68 | 20h52m | 3h31m | +51°12’12.65″ | 10h11m |
Ced 84c | 4.68 | 20h49m | 3h36m | +52°49’16.08″ | 10h23m |
Ced 100 | 4.80 | 0h04m | 4h21m | +20°01’36.11″ | 8h37m |
Ced 177 | 4.82 | 7h15m | 16h58m | +79°57’29.93″ | 2h41m |
vdB 134 | 4.95 | — | 17h19m | +87°54’22.45″ | — |
LDN 1121 | 5.00 | — | 18h30m | +78°34’51.28″ | — |
Ced 19p | 5.18 | 16h39m | 0h40m | +67°16’52.34″ | 8h40m |
Ced 199 | 5.19 | — | 19h01m | +77°24’51.26″ | — |
Ced 99 | 5.20 | 23h24m | 4h16m | +26°50’43.32″ | 9h07m |
Ced 27 | 5.27 | 16h35m | 0h57m | +70°44’10.64″ | 9h20m |
vdB 95 | 5.38 | 22h43m | 3h57m | +31°45’02.07″ | 9h12m |
Ced 19c | 5.43 | 16h34m | 0h35m | +67°25’30.97″ | 8h37m |
vdB 128 | 5.63 | 7h56m | 16h53m | +75°19’59.57″ | 1h50m |
IC 5076 | 5.69 | — | 17h45m | +89°23’01.17″ | — |
vdB 38 | 5.77 | 19h32m | 2h13m | +51°23’08.40″ | 8h53m |
Ced 19h | 5.85 | 16h33m | 0h36m | +67°41’20.74″ | 8h40m |
vdB 9 | 5.96 | — | 23h43m | +67°58’23.18″ | — |
IC 405 (Flaming Star Nebula) | 6.00 | 16h52m | 2h08m | +77°27’28.99″ | 11h24m |
vdB 10 | 6.00 | — | 0h07m | +79°43’52.10″ | — |
vdB 144 | 6.00 | — | 18h30m | +81°58’26.12″ | — |
Ced 82 | 6.06 | 20h57m | 3h28m | +49°10’47.26″ | 9h59m |
vdB 133 | 6.19 | 7h36m | 17h20m | +80°03’30.69″ | 3h04m |
Ced 85 | 6.20 | 21h01m | 3h33m | +49°23’58.45″ | 10h05m |
Ced 89d | 6.20 | 22h39m | 3h57m | +32°23’31.78″ | 9h14m |
Ced 89e | 6.20 | 22h41m | 4h00m | +32°41’54.87″ | 9h19m |
Ced 180 | 6.30 | 8h35m | 18h20m | +80°11’00.28″ | 4h06m |
vdB 140 | 6.41 | — | 18h06m | +78°15’27.99″ | — |
NGC 1555 (Hind’s Variable Nebula) | 6.50 | 17h38m | 1h13m | +62°38’46.78″ | 8h47m |
IC 1805 (Heart Nebula) | 6.50 | — | 23h23m | +75°23’53.69″ | — |
vdB 7 | 6.50 | — | 23h40m | +67°13’36.70″ | — |
vdB 29 | 6.50 | 17h02m | 1h39m | +72°52’03.03″ | 10h17m |
NGC 7023 (Iris Nebula) | 6.80 | — | 17h50m | +68°42’19.41″ | — |
vdB 31 | 6.80 | 17h03m | 1h47m | +73°38’30.15″ | 10h30m |
Ced 47 | 6.81 | 19h20m | 2h20m | +55°38’44.75″ | 9h19m |
IC 2177 (Seagull Nebula) | 6.97 | 22h37m | 3h55m | +32°35’23.57″ | 9h14m |
IC 432 | 6.98 | 20h34m | 2h32m | +41°34’27.79″ | 8h29m |
NGC 6960 (Filamentary Nebula) | 7.00 | 8h50m | 17h35m | +73°50’24.54″ | 2h20m |
NGC 6992 (East Veil Nebula) | 7.00 | 8h52m | 17h45m | +74°52’41.54″ | 2h39m |
vdB 12 | 7.00 | 15h24m | 0h17m | +74°49’54.41″ | 9h09m |
NGC 6823 | 7.10 | 8h37m | 16h32m | +66°24’31.84″ | 0h27m |
Ced 89a | 7.10 | 22h41m | 3h54m | +31°29’56.68″ | 9h08m |
Ced 9b | 7.11 | — | 23h44m | +76°23’28.20″ | — |
NGC 7380 (The Wizard Nebula) | 7.20 | — | 19h37m | +78°41’59.60″ | — |
IC 5146 (Cocoon Nebula) | 7.20 | — | 18h43m | +89°26’45.08″ | — |
vdB 26 | 7.20 | 18h15m | 1h04m | +53°19’52.55″ | 7h53m |
vdB 88 | 7.20 | 22h38m | 3h53m | +31°44’46.12″ | 9h07m |
NGC 2409 (Firsse 213) | 7.30 | 23h36m | 4h22m | +25°50’47.48″ | 9h09m |
IC 348 (ο Per Cloud) | 7.30 | 15h39m | 0h35m | +75°17’12.52″ | 9h32m |
IC 434 | 7.30 | 20h38m | 2h31m | +40°34’55.30″ | 8h25m |
NGC 6888 (Crescent Nebula) | 7.40 | 6h59m | 17h01m | +81°28’08.93″ | 3h03m |
vdB 145 | 7.40 | — | 18h33m | +87°56’12.58″ | — |
vdB 48 | 7.46 | 20h25m | 2h29m | +42°53’51.42″ | 8h32m |
IC 444 | 7.50 | 19h14m | 3h10m | +66°21’45.29″ | 11h05m |
vdB 25 | 7.50 | 17h06m | 1h03m | +66°41’19.12″ | 9h00m |
vdB 18 | 7.58 | 14h28m | 0h26m | +81°08’28.31″ | 10h23m |
IC 431 | 7.67 | 20h33m | 2h31m | +41°37’07.75″ | 8h29m |
C 9 (Cave Nebula) | 7.70 | — | 19h47m | +74°21’28.26″ | — |
Ced 91 | 7.70 | 22h30m | 3h56m | +34°19’27.54″ | 9h23m |
Ced 207 | 7.70 | — | 19h46m | +74°05’57.77″ | — |
vdB 47 | 7.80 | 18h35m | 2h30m | +66°23’37.68″ | 10h25m |
vdB 136 | 7.80 | 6h00m | 17h27m | +85°11’34.78″ | 4h54m |
vdB 157 | 7.80 | — | 19h51m | +64°06’29.90″ | — |
NGC 2023 | 7.82 | 20h38m | 2h32m | +40°49’00.94″ | 8h27m |
NGC 1909 (Witch Head Nebula) | 8.00 | 20h22m | 1h52m | +35°12’22.59″ | 7h23m |
Supernova remnants
Name | Mag. | Rise | Transit | Elev. | Set |
NGC 6960 (Filamentary Nebula) | 7.00 | 8h50m | 17h35m | +73°50’24.48″ | 2h20m |
NGC 6992 (East Veil Nebula) | 7.00 | 8h52m | 17h45m | +74°52’41.51″ | 2h39m |
M 1 (Crab Nebula) | 8.40 | 18h37m | 2h25m | +65°05’16.46″ | 10h13m |
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