Mercury at Perihelion – November 23, 2025
Time: November 23, 2025, at 16:41 IST
Event: Mercury reaches perihelion—its closest point to the Sun in its 88-day orbit.
Distance from the Sun: Approximately 0.31 AU (about 46 million km).
Orbit: Mercury has a highly elliptical orbit, ranging from 0.307 AU at perihelion to 0.467 AU at aphelion—a variation of over 50%.
Impact: Mercury’s surface receives more than twice the solar energy at perihelion compared to aphelion, causing extreme temperature changes.
Observability: This orbital change affects Mercury’s surface conditions but causes no noticeable difference in its telescopic appearance for amateur observers.
A key orbital milestone highlighting Mercury’s unique, elliptical path around the Sun!
Comet 210P/Christensen at Perihelion – November 22, 2025
Date: November 22, 2025
Event: Comet 210P/Christensen reaches its closest point to the Sun (perihelion) at 0.52 AU.
Visibility from New Delhi:
Not easily observable on perihelion day due to its proximity to the Sun (only about 19° separation).
Viewing tip: Because it’s close to the Sun, the comet may only be visible during twilight or with specialized equipment, and best viewing would be after it moves away from the Sun’s glare.
A notable moment in the comet’s orbit—keep an eye out for opportunities to spot it as it travels away from the Sun!
The Moon at Perihelion – November 22, 2025
Time: November 22, 2025, at 12:04 IST
Event: The Moon reaches perihelion—its closest point to the Sun in its monthly orbit.
Distance from the Sun: 0.9852 AU
At this time, Earth is 0.9878 AU from the Sun.
The Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, occurring near the new moon phase.
Distance between Earth and Moon: approximately 0.0027 AU (405,000 km).
This is part of the Moon’s elliptical orbit causing small variations in distance and position relative to the Sun and Earth.
A fascinating orbital milestone highlighting the subtle dynamics of the Earth-Moon-Sun system!
🌠 α-Monocerotid Meteor Shower – Nov 21, 2025
Get ready for a rare celestial treat! The α-Monocerotids will peak on Nov 21, under dark, moonless skies 🌙.
🔭 Viewing from New Delhi:
Visible after 22:03 IST till dawn (06:20 IST)
Best displays: around 04:00 IST
Radiant in Canis Minor
Parent body: Comet C/1917 F1 (Mellish)
This shower is known for surprise outbursts, so keep your eyes to the sky – you might just catch an unforgettable meteor storm! ✨
Conjunction of the Moon and Mars – November 21, 2025
Date & Time: November 21, 2025, at 18:00 IST
Event: The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, with the Moon 4°27′ south of Mars (appulse).
Moon phase: 1 day old, mag –8.0 in Scorpius
Mars magnitude: 1.4 in Ophiuchus
Visibility from New Delhi:
Not observable as both reach their highest point during daytime
At dusk, they will be at or below the horizon (0° altitude), making viewing impossible
Separation too wide for most telescopes, but visible to naked eye or binoculars when above horizon
Ideal viewing requires a location where the pair is higher in the sky during nighttime
A subtle conjunction mostly hidden by daylight—keep an eye out for better opportunities soon!
Uranus at Opposition – November 21, 2025
Date & Time: November 21, 2025, at 17:47 IST
Event: Uranus will be at opposition, positioned opposite the Sun in the sky.
Location: In the constellation Taurus.
Visibility from New Delhi:
Visible from 19:04 IST to 05:12 IST
Rises at 19:04 IST, 21° above eastern horizon
Culminates (highest point) at 00:08 IST, 81° above southern horizon
Sets below 21° above western horizon at 05:12 IST
Significance: At opposition, Uranus is closest to Earth, appearing brightest and visible for most of the night—ideal for observation.
Look up after dusk for a great chance to spot this distant ice giant!
Mercury at Inferior Solar Conjunction – November 20, 2025
Time: November 20, 2025, at 14:49 IST
Event: Mercury passes between the Sun and Earth, marking the end of its evening visibility and soon becoming a morning object.
Separation: Will appear just 0°32′ from the Sun, making it completely unobservable for several weeks due to the Sun’s glare.
Perigee: Occurs at the same time—Mercury is at its closest to Earth, 0.68 AU away.
Angular size: Appears largest (9.9 arcseconds); however, it is totally unilluminated and invisible during this alignment.
Synodic cycle: This event happens once every 116 days, as Mercury transitions from evening to morning skies.
A rare behind-the-Sun moment for Mercury as it slips from view, soon to reappear in the pre-dawn sky.
New Moon – November 20, 2025
Time: November 20, 2025, at 12:18 IST
Event: The Moon passes close to the Sun and is lost in its glare for a few days.
Phase cycle: The Moon orbits Earth every 29.5 days, cycling through new, first quarter, full, and last quarter phases.
During new moon, the Earth, Moon, and Sun align, with the Moon between Earth and Sun. We see the unilluminated side, making the Moon invisible.
The Moon moves over 12° across the sky nightly, causing it to rise and set about an hour later each day.
In the days following new moon, a waxing crescent appears in the dusk sky, setting soon after the Sun. By first quarter (in about a week), the Moon becomes visible until midnight.
A perfect moment to learn about lunar cycles—even if you can’t spot the Moon in the sky!
The Moon at Apogee – November 20, 2025
Time: November 20, 2025, at 08:18 IST
Event: The Moon reaches its apogee — the furthest point from Earth in its orbit.
Distance: About 406,700 km from Earth, compared to 356,500 km at perigee.
Effect: The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer than usual, though the difference is subtle.
Angular size range: Varies between 29.4 and 33.5 arcminutes due to its elliptical orbit.
Cycle period: The anomalistic month (apogee to apogee) lasts about 27.555 days, slightly longer than the orbital period of 27.322 days.
On this date, apogee coincides with a new moon, so the Moon will appear as a thin crescent.
Note: The “Moon illusion” often makes the Moon look larger near the horizon, but this is an optical illusion — the Moon’s actual size remains constant.
A great moment to appreciate the subtle variations in our closest celestial neighbor’s orbit!
Leonid Meteor Shower – Nov 17, 2025
Mark your calendars! The Leonids, famous for their brilliant fireballs, will peak on Nov 17–18.
Viewing from New Delhi:
Visible after 23:49 IST till dawn (06:17 IST)
Best time: pre-dawn hours
Radiant in Leo, reaching 81° altitude
Up to 14 meteors/hour under dark skies
With the New Moon nearby, skies will be dark – perfect for watching this celestial spectacle!
Parent body: Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle
