Above Edison High, the November sky is glowing with planets, stars, and constellations, offering opportunities for students to pause, look up, and connect with the universe even through their busy days.
For November, the planets are taking center stage. Jupiter, the brightest “star” in the night sky, rises in the east-northeast each evening and dominates the sky throughout the night. Its steady glow is unmistakable and easy to spot even in light-polluted areas. Nearby, Saturn’s rings shine with a soft golden glow in the southwest. With a telescope or even binoculars, students might catch a glimpse of Saturn’s famous rings.
This month, different constellations are making their appearance. Taurus the Bull rises earlier each night, revealing the Pleiades, a small cluster of stars shining brightly alongside the planets. Orion rises in the east with his three-star belt, a telltale sign that Christmas is coming.
The main event, however, was the Leonid Meteor Shower, which peaked overnight between November 16 and 18. Famous for its dramatic meteor storms, the Leonids delivered around 10 to 15 meteors per hour under dark skies this year. With a thin crescent moon, conditions were ideal for viewing. Students who stepped outside to a dark spot away from streetlights were treated to some of the best views of the night sky all year.
“Honestly, with all the tests and deadlines going on, and especially since this is my freshman year, it’s nice to know that there are calming things out there other than just social media,” said Averi Ghosh ‘29.
That is not all, though. Late in the month, the Moon will reach its new phase, creating perfect conditions to spot faint celestial sights like the Milky Way or even the distant Andromeda Galaxy.
“With everything getting chaotic this month, knowing that there’s stuff like this going on in space and in our night sky is really fun and calming,” said Malak Abdelsayed ‘27.
As the marking period comes to an end and students are faced with final deadlines, tests, and constant noise, the night sky always offers a quiet beauty. It is one of the few things that asks nothing of us—no grades, no deadlines, and no pressure. Just a moment to look up, breathe, and realize that the universe is still out there, shining no matter how busy life gets.
