November 2025 Skywatch
Authored By: ʻImiloa Astronomy Center
Featured Maunakea Observatory Update
Multiple Maunakea observatories have been observing 3I/ATLAS, an interstellar comet. 3I/ATLAS originated from outside of the Solar System and was found by the ATLAS survey telescope in Chile. This is only the third known observed object to originate from interstellar space, hence the “3I” in its name (the first known interstellar object, ʻOumuamua, was discovered and named in Hawai’i).
Multiple Maunakea observations have spent the summer observing the comet. In the month of November, 3I/ATLAS will be passing too close to the Sun for ground-based observatories to study it. However, 3I/ATLAS will be visible again in December and enable further studies of this visiting object from outer space. Eventually, 3I/ATLAS will fly away from our Solar System, never to return again.
More information can be found at the following press release:
https://www.gemini.edu/news/press-releases/noirlab2522
Special Events
Leonids Meteor Shower - November 17-18
Through November, the spectacular Leonids meteor shower will scatter our sky with shooting stars. These meteors come from the tail of the comet Tempel-Tuttle, a periodic comet which last swept through Earthʻs orbit in 1998. The peak of the shower will occur Nov. 17-18 when observers should see up to 10 meteors each hour.
Evening Observing
Near the center of the sky will be Kalupeakawelo, also known as “the Kite of Kawelo '' which is one of the four great navigational starlines identified by the Polynesian Voyaging Society. At the center of this starline is the famous “Great Square of Pegasus,” which represents the body of a kite as it is being flown high overhead. North of the Great Square is the “W '' shape of ‘Iwakeliʻi and the house-like-shape of Kamōʻī. The starline also connects to some of the brightest stars in the southern fall sky. According to the legend, Kawelo was a Kauaʻi chief and hero, most notable for the many athletic competitions in which he excelled. In a kite flying contest with his cousin, Kauahoa, Kawelo is able to twist, turn, and make his kite leap, resulting in both kites becoming entangled and Kawelo’s kite, severing the string of his cousin’s kite and carrying it away in the wind. Kawelo fears he will be punished by his much larger cousin, but Kauahoa blames the wind. Those watching the competition interpret the incident as a sign of Kawelo’s supernatural power.
Morning Observing
Behind Jupiter, will be the Milky Way and the navigational star family Kekāomakaliʻi, The Bailer of Makaliʻi.
