Five night sky events to look forward to this autumn – BBC News
BBC Homepage | Skip to content | Accessibility Help | Your account
Autumn’s Night Sky Spectacles
Autumn brings longer nights to the northern hemisphere, offering more opportunities to stargaze. Here’s what to look out for over the coming months:
The Pleiades
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: A view of the Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters or Messier 45 (M45)
As autumn nights deepen, the Pleiades, aka the Seven Sisters, becomes more prominent. This young star cluster, located around 440 light years from Earth, is easily recognizable in the constellation Taurus. With most people able to see six stars with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope can reveal many more.
Orionid Meteor Shower
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: The Orionid meteor shower observed on October 22, 2025 in Dezhou, Shandong Province of China
Active from early October to November, the Orionid meteor shower reaches its peak around October 21. Twice a year, Earth passes through trails of Halley’s comet debris, creating streaks of light as these tiny particles enter our atmosphere at high speeds. The Orionids appear to radiate from the constellation Orion. For best viewing, find a dark spot away from artificial lights and allow your eyes time to adjust.
November Planetary Parade
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Jupiter and Venus are among the brightest objects in our night sky
Early risers can witness a gathering of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter around November 14. While Mercury will be challenging due to its low position and proximity to sunrise, Venus and Jupiter, being among the brightest objects in the sky, should be easily visible.
Leonid Meteor Shower
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Meteors streak across the sky during the Leonid meteor shower
Later in November, the Leonid meteor shower peaks around November 17. Traveling at approximately 70km per second, Leonids are among the fastest meteors visible from Earth. Under ideal conditions, around 10 to 15 meteors per hour can be seen, though the actual number will depend on weather, light pollution, and moonlight. Named after the constellation Leo, where they appear to originate, the best time to view them is after midnight and before dawn.
