Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday November 6th, and 7th, 2023
This is the Dudley Observatory’s Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday November 6th, and 7th, written by Joe Slomka.
Now that we have returned to Eastern Standard Time, Sun sets at 4:42 PM; night falls at 6:18. Dawn begins at 5:00 AM and ends with Sun rising at 6:37.
Leo presents the Moon on both nights. One day past Last Quarter, Monday’s Moon sets at 2:06 PM and rises at 12:33 AM on Tuesday; in the Northwest, it’s 30 arc-seconds in size, 26% illuminated and sets at 2:46 PM. Wednesday’s Moon arises at 1:35 AM; by 5 AM it is 25 days old, 22% lit and 34high in the Southeast. Venus appears 21° below the Moon.
The annual Southern Taurid Meteor Shower is active, lasting for 15 days. It is spawned by comet 2P/Encke, one can expect about 5 meteors per hour which travels at 28 km/second. By 9 PM, it is about 17° high and peaks at about 2 AM. Brilliant Jupiter lurks 11° away, washing out dim meteors.
Saturn continues as the first visible evening planet. In southern Aquarius, it is well up by sundown and resumes forward motion; by 7 PM, it shines with zero magnitude, 17 arc-seconds, 34° highest and sets at 12:17 AM on Tuesday. Neptune, in Pisces, trails 24°, glows with 7th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, also already risen, 44° highest at 8:34 PM and sets at 2:25 AM.
Eastern Aries still hosts Jupiter and Uranus; both reach Opposition this month, an ideal time for observation. Gas Giant Jupiter rises around sunset, flashes with minus 3rd magnitude, a large 49 arc-seconds, 60° highest at 11:22 PM and sets at 6:16 AM. Tuesday, the Great Red Spot (a giant storm) begins crossing Jupiter at 2:44 AM and also at 10:35 PM. Jovian satellite Ganymede’s eclipse begins at 12:42 AM and ends at 5:36 AM. Uranus trails Jupiter by 11° rises at 4:58 PM, glimmering with 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, 21° at 7 PM, 64° highest at 12:10 AM and sets at 7:17 AM.
Mercury and Mars share Libra and are hidden by the Sun’s glare. Southeastern Venus is last in Virgo, rises at 2:39 AM, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, almost 21 arc-seconds, 34° at 6 AM and sets during daytime.
Comet 103P/Hartley is fading. It appears at 11:22 PM, highest at 5:32 AM, 75% lit and sets during daytime. Now glimmers with 10th magnitude, which means veiled for most small telescopes.
Monday marks the 20th anniversary of Voyager’s triumph. In 1977 two space probes were launched. Originally, they took a Grand Tour, flying by Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and sending amazing photos and data. They were in such good condition, that NASA sent them into the outer limits of the Solar System. In 2003, Voyager 1 crossed the boundary, Voyager 2 on 2019 likewise entered outer space. Both vehicles are so far that communications take about 21 hours for a message to arrive at Earth. Both have 5 instruments still sending reports. Nuclear fuel that powers them is now fading. They may shut down in 2025.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka