Moon Phases
Wed., November 2, 2:38 p.m. EDT
First Quarter Moon
The First Quarter Moon rises around 2 p.m., and sets around
1 a.m.
Thu., November 10, 3:16 p.m. EST
Full Moon
This is the Full Moon two months after Harvest Moon, so is
usually called the Oak Moon. In Algonquian it is called Beaver Moon. Other
names are Frost Moon and Snow Moon. In Hindi it is known as Kartik Poornima.
Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Il Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and
sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky
all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in
the daytime sky.
Fri., November 18, 12:09 p.m. EST
Last Quarter Moon
The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around midnight and
sets around 2 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern
sky.
Fri., November 25, 1:10 a.m. EST
New Moon
The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it
is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent a
morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the west an
evening or two after New Moon.
Observing Highlights
All Month, evening
Comet Garradd (C/2009 P1)
Comet Garradd continues to be a nice object in binoculars or
a small telescope, an 8th magnitude comet slowly crossing Hercules.
Tue., November 1, dusk
Mercury and Venus 2 degrees apart
The first of two close encounters between Mercury and Venus
this month. Mercury’s proximity to Venus makes it easier than usual to spot.
Thu., November 10, 3 a.m.
Mars close to Regulus
Mars will be just north of Regulus, the brightest star in
the constellation Leo.
Sat., November 12, dusk
Mercury and Venus 2 degrees apart
The second of two close encounters between Mercury and Venus
this month. Mercury’s proximity to Venus makes it easier than usual to spot.
Tomorrow evening Mercury will be at its greatest elongation from the Sun.
Thu., November 17, 11 p.m. EST
Leonid meteors peak
The Leonid meteor shower, which sometimes puts on a good
show, peaks at 11 p.m. EST, but more meteors are likely to be visible after
local midnight.
Fri., November 25
Partial solar eclipse
Visible in southern South Africa, Antarctica, Tasmania, and
most of New Zealand.
Planets
Mercury is well
placed in the western sky after sunset for the first half of the month. It is
very close to Venus, making it easy to spot.
Venus is low in the
evening sky after sunset all month.
Mars spends all of
November in Leo. It now outshines nearby Regulus and reaches 7 arc seconds by
the end of the month, large enough to reveal its polar cap and dark surface
markings in a 6-inch (150-mm) telescope.
Jupiter was in
opposition in Aries in October 28, so is well placed in the evening sky all
month. Jupiter and Venus are the brightest objects in the night sky other than
the Moon.
Saturn reappears
just before dawn in the eastern sky close to Spica in Virgo.
Uranus is well
placed in Pisces all month.
Neptune is well
placed in Aquarius all month.
Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night software
