In brief
Saudi Arabia's night sky in November 2026 will display a near‑lunar supermoon on the 24th, four bright planets in the pre‑dawn horizon between the 13th and 22nd, and two meteor showers peaking on the 11‑12 and 17‑18 nights. The Jeddah Astronomy Society President highlighted the importance of dark, unobstructed sites to best view the events. Astronomers urge viewers to follow the recommended observing guidelines set by the society.
On 24 November 2026 a near‑lunar supermoon will dominate the sky over Saudi Arabia, while the period from 13 to 22 November will showcase four visible planets in the dawn horizon and two notable meteor showers will reach their peaks on 11‑12 and 17‑18 November, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Full Moon of 24 November will occur at 5:53 p.m. Makkah time, positioned close to its perigee – the point in the Moon’s orbit nearest to Earth – which causes the lunar disc to appear slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon; this condition has earned the event the informal title of a "giant full moon" or supermoon, Saudi Press Agency said.
"Giant Full Moon" (supermoon) is not an official astronomical classification, the Jeddah Astronomy Society President, Eng. Majed Abu Zahra, told the Agency.
"Giant Full Moon" (supermoon) is not an official astronomical classification.
Between 13 and 22 November, planetary observers will have the opportunity to see Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter in the pre‑dawn sky. These planets, each brightly illuminated by the Sun, will rise earlier each night and reach their highest points before sunrise, a sequence noted in the agency report.
The Northern Taurids meteor shower will peak on the nights of 11 and 12 November, while the Leonids will reach their maximum activity on 17 and 18 November. Under ideal viewing conditions, the Leonids are expected to produce between ten and fifteen meteors per hour, a note of the star‑fall’s potential brilliance supplied by the Saudi Press Agency.
Observers in Saudi Arabia are advised to choose dark locations with an open horizon to maximize visibility of the supermoon, planets and meteor displays, Abu Zahra warned. He further recommended that people face the horizon during the dawn hours to track the planets as they rise toward daylight.
These combined events present a rare celestial tapestry that will engage both amateur stargazers and professional astronomers alike, the Saudi Press Agency noted, underscoring Saudi Arabia’s role as a prime location for night‑sky observation during the industrial season of late autumn.
