November 17-18: Leonids meteor shower: The Leonids meteor shower tends to peak in the middle of November every year and this year it’ll be seen at its peak on Monday November 17 and Tuesday November 18.

December 4: Cold Moon: Head out to the desert to catch the moon in all its glory on Thursday December 4, allowing visitors to see the moon at its closest point to Earth.

December 7: Jupiter opposition: Jupiter opposition occurs once a year when our planet passes directly between Jupiter and the Sun, resulting in Jupiter being at its closest point to Earth.

December 13-14: Geminids meteor shower: It is the last space event of the year and you can see up to 120 meteors per hour in clear skies.

Here’s what we do know:

• The universe is vast — over 200 billion galaxies, each with billions of stars and likely trillions of planets. Statistically, it seems unlikely that Earth is the only place where life has developed.

• Scientists have already found exoplanets (planets outside our solar system) that could have conditions similar to Earth’s — the so-called “habitable zone.”

• Projects like SETI listen for radio signals from other civilizations, and missions like James Webb Space Telescope are looking for signs of life (like oxygen, methane, or water) in exoplanet atmospheres.

• But so far — no confirmed evidence of alien life, not even microbial.

Mareya saeed

There are around 200 billion galaxies, and each galaxy has billions of stars, many with planets. That means there could be trillions of planets—some like Earth.

2. 🌍 Earth shows that life can thrive in extreme places.

Microbes live deep in the ocean, in volcanic vents, and even in frozen deserts. If life can survive here, maybe it can survive on planets like Mars, Europa (a moon of Jupiter), or Enceladus (a moon of Saturn).

3. 🛰️ Scientists are searching right now.

Missions like the James Webb Space Telescope are studying exoplanets’ atmospheres for signs of life, and projects like SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) are listening for radio signals from distant civilizations.

The universe is so vast that many scientists think it’s only a

matter of time before we find evidence of life

On Wednesday, November 5, the Beaver Supermoon will brighten the night sky. This full moon is called the Beaver Moon because, in the past, it marked the time when beavers prepared for winter. It’s also a supermoon, meaning it will appear larger and brighter than usual since the Moon is at its closest point to Earth in its orbit.

1. Meteor Showers

November is meteor month — two major showers light up the sky:

• 💫 Taurids Meteor Shower

  • Active: Late October → mid-November

  • Peak: Around Nov 5–6, 2025

  • Features: Slow, bright “fireballs.” The Taurids often produce a few spectacular meteors rather than large numbers.

The Southern Taurid Meteor Shower has two peaks: the first is in mid-October, and the second is in early November. While this is typically a low-frequency meteor shower, around five shooting stars per hour, 2025 is expected to be one of those rare fireball swarm years, when exceptionally bright meteors—some shining brighter than Venus—light up the sky. The best time to look up is the night of November 4 into the early hours of November 5.

A micromoon is when the moon is in a new moon or full moon phase concides with apogee

This means the moon will be at the furthest point from earth, and this micromoon will be a new moon.

Are We Alone in the Universe?

scientists don’t have proof of life beyond Earth, but most believe it’s very likely to exist somewhere. There are billions of galaxies with countless planets, and many of them could have the right conditions for life, like water and a suitable atmosphere.

NASA and other space programs are studying planets and moons that might support life, but no clear evidence has been found yet. This mystery is known as the Fermi Paradox — if the universe is so big, why haven’t we found anyone?

In conclusion, my research shows that while we haven’t discovered aliens, the universe is so huge that it’s hard to believe we’re truly alone.

The Geminids happen when Earth passes through the dusty trail of an asteroid called 3200 Phaethon. The tiny bits of dust and rock burn up in our atmosphere, creating bright streaks of light across the sky.

If you go outside late at night, away from city lights, you might catch one of the most amazing sights of the year!

. Currently, no conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial life has ever been found. 

However, the scientific consensus, based on the immense size of the universe and the abundance of planets (including potentially habitable ones), is that it is highly probable that life of some form exists elsewhere. Most scientists believe it's only a matter of time before it's detected. 

Key Points of the Scientific View

• Vastness of the Universe: The observable universe contains an estimated two trillion galaxies, each with hundreds of billions of stars and planets. The sheer number makes it statistically unlikely that life only developed on Earth.

• Exoplanet Discoveries: Over 5,000 planets outside our solar system (exoplanets) have been confirmed, many of which are Earth-sized and located in the "habitable zone" of their stars, where liquid water could exist.

• Universal Laws of Physics and Chemistry: The fundamental building blocks of life, such as organic molecules and water, are common throughout the cosmos. The same physical and chemical laws apply everywhere, suggesting life could arise where conditions are suitable.

• Extremophiles on Earth: Life on Earth has been found in extremely harsh environments (e.g., deep-ocean hydrothermal vents, acidic hot springs). This suggests that life elsewhere might be more resilient and diverse than previously thought.

• Lack of Direct Evidence (The Fermi Paradox): Despite the high probability, the universe's "eerie silence" is known as the Fermi Paradox. Possible explanations include:

  • Intelligent civilizations are extremely rare or short-lived.

  • Distances are too vast for communication or travel within the lifetime of a civilization.

  • We may not be using the right methods to listen for signals.

• Current Search Efforts: The search is ongoing, with missions like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) analyzing exoplanet atmospheres for biosignatures (gases associated with life, like oxygen and methane). Tantalizing hints have been found on planets like K2-18b, though they are not yet conclusive. Within our solar system, icy moons like Europa and Enceladus with subsurface oceans are primary targets for future missions.