Brian Carter: The November Night Sky

The November Night Sky

In the Summer months with warmer nights, looking at the stars and planets becomes a pleasure, instead of a cold ordeal.

Planets

November is a fair month for viewing the planets. Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn are visible all month. Mercury will not be seen as it is visually too close to the Sun.

Jupiter will be visible in the early evening in the Western sky. At the start of the month it sets at 23 25 and at 21 59 by month’s end. Jupiter is in the constellation of Ophiuchus. Its magnitude slightly fades from –1.9 to –1.8 by the end of November.

Mars will be visible for the last two thirds of the night. At the start of November it rises at 01 00 and at 23 08 by month’s end. Mars is in the constellation of Gemini. Its magnitude brightens from –0.6 to –1.3 during the month.

Saturn is visible in the Eastern morning sky for the last quarter of the night. It rises at 03 52 at the start of November and at 02 03 by month’s end. Saturn is in the constellation of Leo, in which it remains until September 2009. Its magnitude is a constant 0.8 during the month.

Venus will be visible in the Eastern morning twilight sky. At the start of the November it rises at 04 22 and at 03 49 by month’s end. Venus starts the month in the constellation of Leo, moving into Virgo on November 4. Venus slightly fades from –4.4 to –4.2 during November.

Mercury is visually too close to the Sun to be seen. Mercury starts the month in the constellation of Virgo, moving into Libra on November 18.

All times are for Wellington unless otherwise stated. Other centres may vary by a few minutes.

Phases of the Moon

Last Quarter – November 2 at 10 18.
New Moon – November 10 at 12 03.
First Quarter – November 18 at 11 33.
Full Moon – November 25 at 03 30.

Diary of Astronomical Phenomena

Nov 2 Mercury stationary against the background stars at 02 00, as its motion changes from a Westerly to an Easterly direction.
9 Mercury at greatest Westerly elongation from the Sun (19°) at 10 00.
10 Moon at apogee (furthest from the Earth) at 02 00 (Distance = 0.0027184 AU = 406,670 km).
10 New Moon at 12 03.
16 Mars stationary against the background stars at 05 00, as its motion changes from an Easterly to a Westerly direction.
24 Moon at perigee (closest to the Earth) at 13 00. (Distance = 0.0023877 AU = 357,190 km).
25 Full Moon at 03 30
29 Venus close to Spica in the morning twilight.

THIS MONTH’S SKY CHART

This chart shows the sky as it appears at about 22 00 for ~November 15.

Click for big version

How To Use the Sky Charts
To use the sky chart hold it up to the sky so that the direction in which you are looking is at the lower edge of the map. For example, if you are looking at the western horizon then the map should be held so that the “WEST” label is at the lower edge. The altitude and direction of the stars and planets will then be correctly shown. The centre of the chart will be directly overhead.

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