{"id":646967,"date":"2026-10-31T14:30:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T14:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/646967\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T14:30:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T14:30:13","slug":"astrophotography-in-november-2026-a-supermoon-the-return-of-orion-and-long-winter-nights-make-this-a-great-month-to-take-your-camera-out-at-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/646967\/","title":{"rendered":"Astrophotography in November 2026: a supermoon, the return of Orion and long winter nights make this a great month to take your camera out at night"},"content":{"rendered":"

10 must-shoot events for astrophotographers in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

November 1-12: Dark sky window<\/p>\n

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November\u2019s new moon creates ideal conditions for deep-sky imaging. (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

With the new moon on 9 November, the first week of the month offers some of the year’s darkest skies. Look east after sunset \u2013 preferably from somewhere that looks dark on a light pollution map<\/a> \u2013 to see Orion, Taurus and Auriga rising. These regions are rich in bright stars and deep-sky objects that photograph well even under modest conditions. Use a wide-angle lens (14\u201324mm), a fast aperture (f\/2\u2013f\/2.8), ISO 1600\u20133200 and exposures of 10\u201320 seconds to capture the starry scene. A star tracker allows longer exposures and reveals more detail in star clusters and nebulae \u2014 such as the Orion Nebula below Orion\u2019s Belt.<\/p>\n

Latest Videos FromDigital Camera World<\/p>\n

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Read: The best star tracker camera mounts<\/a><\/p>\n

November 17-18: Leonid meteor shower<\/p>\n

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The Leonids peak in mid-November but will be affected by moonlight this year. (Image credit: Wenbin\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The Leonids peak overnight on 17-18 November, producing around 10-15 meteors per hour under ideal conditions. However, a bright first-quarter moon will significantly reduce visibility this year. Even so, you may still capture brighter meteors. Use a wide-angle lens (14-24mm), ISO 800-1600 and 20-30 second exposures, shooting continuously for several hours. Aim away from the moon to maximise contrast. While results may be modest, you have a good chance of capturing one or two bright meteors.<\/p>\n

You may like<\/p>\n

Read: How to photograph a meteor shower<\/a><\/p>\n

November 21: A celestial triangle<\/p>\n

Be outside at midnight tonight, and you\u2019ll see, rising due east, a lovely conjunction of Jupiter, Mars and Regulus, the latter the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Use a telephoto lens (50-135mm) and try exposures of 5-15 seconds at ISO 800 to capture the trio.<\/p>\n

The best camera deals, reviews, product advice, and unmissable photography news, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n

Read: The best cameras for astrophotography<\/a><\/p>\n

November 24: Full \u2018Supermoon\u2019 rises<\/p>\n

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November\u2019s full Moon is a supermoon, appearing slightly larger and brighter than usual. 1\/125sec at f\/22, ISO800. Sony A9<\/a> with FE 100-400mm<\/a>. (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

November\u2019s full moon is a supermoon, occurring when the moon is near its closest point to Earth on its slightly elliptical monthly orbit. It will appear slightly larger and brighter than average, dominating the night sky.<\/p>\n

As always, the best time to photograph a full moon is at moonrise. Use a telephoto lens (200-600mm) to exaggerate its size relative to the foreground or capture it rising behind buildings, hills or trees. Use ISO 100 and fast shutter speeds \u2014 it\u2019s a very bright object. However, bracketing exposures can help retain detail in both the moon and the surrounding landscape.<\/p>\n

What to read next<\/p>\n

Read: How to photograph the full moon<\/a><\/p>\n

Astrophotography shot of the month: Orion rising<\/p>\n

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November is a great time for imaging the iconic constellation Orion. (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

November marks Orion’s return as a dominant evening constellation, making it the month’s standout subject. Its bright stars and distinctive shape make it ideal for beginners and experienced astrophotographers alike.<\/p>\n

Use a wide-angle lens to capture Orion within a larger winter sky scene, or a short telephoto lens (50-135mm) to isolate the three stars of its Belt and the surrounding region. Exposures of 5-15 seconds at ISO 800-1600 will reveal detail without star trailing, while a star tracker will allow longer exposures and finer structure.<\/p>\n

Orion also serves as a gateway to the winter sky. Follow its Belt downward to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky, or upward to Aldebaran in Taurus. Including these connections in your compositions can add depth and context.<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Astrophotography tools: the best camera, lenses and gear<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 The best lenses for astrophotography<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2022 The best star tracker camera mounts<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Northern Hemisphere finally…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":646968,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[442,498,499,500,501,156,111,139,69],"class_list":["post-646967","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646967","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646967"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646967\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/646968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}