Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, November 11th and 12th, written by Joe Slomka
This is the Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, November 11th and 12th, written by Joe Slomka.
The Sun sets at 4:36 PM; night falls at 6:13. Dawn begins at 5:07 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 6:44
Monday’s 10-day-old Moon rises in Aquarius at 2:21 PM, appears 32 arc-minutes in size, 79% illuminated and sets at 1:12 AM. Tuesday finds the Moon now in Pisces, rises at 2:44 PM, same apparent size, but 88% lit and sets at 2:29 PM.
Last week we talked about the Southern Taurid meteor shower. This week, Northern Taurids join in, is best on Tuesday night and continues sporadically all month.
Comet C/2023 A3 still occupies Ophiuchus, rising at 8:47 AM and sets at 9:22 PM; it is now 7th magnitude and fading, 85% lit and 25° high at 5 PM.
Mercury and Venus are southwestern Evening Stars by 5 PM. Mercury, in Ophiuchus, rose at 8:48 AM, hugs the western horizon, only 4° high, 6 arc-seconds in size, glimmers with minus 2nd magnitude, 72% lit and sets at 5:27 PM; star Antares lies only 3° from Mercury. Venus, in Sagittarius, rose at 10:13 AM, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, 15 arc-seconds, 74% illuminated, 13° high and sets at 6:43 PM. Monday finds them 18° apart, 40 minutes before Sunset. This pairing is visible to the naked eye or binoculars before nightfall.
Southern Saturn, in Aquarius rises at 2:01 PM, shines with zero magnitude, 18 arc-seconds, 38° highest at 7:27 PM and sets at 1:00. Tuesday, Saturn’s rings present 5° to Earth, a sight for observers. Southeastern Neptune, in Pisces, rises at 2:30 PM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, 41° highest at 8:20 PM and sets at 2:14 AM. Note the gathering of Saturn, Moon and Neptune – 14° apart.
Uranus and Jupiter share Taurus. Uranus rises at 4:47 PM, shines with 5th magnitude, 4 arc-seconds, 63° highest at 1 AM and sets at 7:16 AM. Giant Jupiter, 24° from Uranus rises in the East at 6:13 PM, glimmers with minus 2nd magnitude, 68° highest at 1 AM AM and sets at 9:13 AM. Tuesday night finds Europa beginning its eclipse at 7:13 PM and ends at 11:01 PM; Wednesday, the Great Red Spot (a giant storm) becomes visible at 1:40 AM. Finally, southern Mars brings up the rear in Cancer; rises at 9:23 PM, shines with minus 1 magnitude, 10 arc-seconds, 68° highest at 5 AM and sets at Noon; Mars continues to brighten and enlarge in our telescopes.
Clear Skies Joe Slomka