There will be three astronomical events this month to give Long Island skywatchers a visual feast right before Thanksgiving.
Jupiter
First up is the gas giant Jupiter, the second largest heavenly body in our solar system after the sun. (For perspective you can fit 1,300 Earths into Jupiter and 1,000 Jupiters into the Sun!) Look east to see it. You might have noticed that very bright star in the sky lately, brighter than any other except the moon. That’s actually Jupiter, which reaches perigee (the closest point to Earth) overnight on November 1st to the morning of November 2nd. It will still be very much visible and bright on November 3rd when it’s at its highest in the sky, during opposition, as Earth passes directly between the sun and Jupiter. Look for Jupiter that night where you would normally see the noonday sun. With a telescope you should be able to also see Jupiter's four largest moons: Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and Io. Fun Fact: Jupiter has rings!
Northern Taurids Meteor Shower
According to Universe Guide, the Taurids Meteor Shower will peak on November 12th. “The Northern Taurids meteor shower radiates from a location within the constellation of Taurus,” the site says. “The source of the Northern Taurids meteor shower particles is asteroid 2004 TG10.”
Leonids Meteor Shower
According to timeanddate.com, the Leonid meteor shower usually peaks around November 17th or 18th. “The shower is called Leonids because its radiant, or the point in the sky where the meteors seem to emerge from, lies in the constellation Leo,” the site says.