The Visible Planets
Mercury may be visible with some difficulty, low above the southwestern horizon at sunset from the start of the month until the end of the month from our northerly vantage point. Observers in the southern hemisphere will be able to easily see Mercury above the horizon due to the higher inclination of the ecliptic from their perspective. See if you can spot Mercury to the right of the very thin waxing crescent Moon after sunset on November 3 just above the southwestern horizon at sunset.
Venus this month finally breaks out of the Sun’s setting glow to gain prominence in our southwestern evening sky at sunset. Look for the very thin waxing crescent Moon below Venus after sunset on November 4.
Mars rises above the northeastern horizon by 11:00 p.m. local time and is found transiting (due south) around 6:00 am local time at a height of almost 60 degrees above the southern horizon. The planet is found with the faint constellation of Cancer, the crab, for the entire month. On the nights of November 19 and 20, look for Mars near the waning gibbous Moon. This month Mars continues to brighten in our evening sky as the distance between Mars and the Earth begins to shrink as we near the Mars opposition on January 16, 2025. You may want to watch Mars through a telescope over the next couple of months to see its size increase until its date of opposition.
Jupiter is found rising above the northeastern horizon just after sunset this month and will be visible all night long. Jupiter is located with the constellation of Taurus, the bull, and can be seen to be moving in a westward (or retrograde) path amongst the stars of Taurus, as Jupiter approaches it point of opposition in early December. As the night moves on Jupiter will appear high in the southern sky, almost 60 degrees up, making for great views of Jupiter through a telescope. Jupiter will be at its point of opposition early next month, so telescopic views of Jupiter will be nothing less than spectacular! Through the nights of November 17 and 18, look for the waning gibbous Moon to join Jupiter in Taurus.
Saturn is seen standing about 16 degrees above the southeastern horizon at sunset and will be found in the constellation of Aquarius, the water bearer. It then sets in the west-southwest around 2:00 a.m. local time. The planet becomes stationary in relation to the background stars on November 16, and from then on moves in its usual easterly (prograde) path across the sky. From the early evening of November 10 and through the night, look for Saturn just above the waxing gibbous Moon.
Moon Phases
November 1 New Moon
November 8 First Quarter Moon
November 15 Full Moon (The Beaver Moon)
November 22 Last Quarter Moon
November 30 New Moon
Special Events
International Space Station (ISS) Observable Passes
During the month of November there will be one pre-sunrise pass of the ISS November 1. After this early morning pass, the ISS will return to early evening passes from November 13 until the end of the month. Exact times of these passages for your location can be found by visiting the website http://www.heavens-above.com or by using satellite tracking smart phone apps like Sputnik or Spot-the-Station.
November ? Launch of VIPER to the Moon (TBA)
November Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS C/2023 A3 may still be visible to the unaided eye away from bright city lights.
November 5 South Taurid meteor shower peaks
November 11 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting
Live in the Zeidler Dome at TWOSE and presented virtually through Zoom.
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 pm
Free for anyone to attend.
See http://www.edmontonrasc.com for more details.
November 11-12 North Taurid meteor shower peaks
November 17-18 Leonid meteor shower peaks (over evening hours)
Only a zenith hourly rate of 20 meteors per hour. Moon is bright in the Sky.