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Skyline for November 2008
Planet Watch | The Moon | Star Parties
The winter chill is beginning, and those clear winter skies with our favorite constellation shapes return to our view. Our brightest two planets, Venus and Jupiter, creep all month toward a spectacular conjunction at the end of the month, where they will be joined by the new crescent moon.
The Planets
Mercury
Early dawn finds Mercury in our eastern sky. Look quick … during the first week, before Mercury gets lost in the sunrise glare.
Venus
Beautifully bright in the southwestern sky at dusk, this is one of two bright planets visible this month. As month goes on, Venus and Jupiter approach each other from our perspective to a beautiful conjunction on November 30. Venus will be shining at a -4.0 magnitude.
Mars
Mars is lost to viewers this month in the glare of sunset.
Jupiter
The second brightest planet this month is also in our western sky. Jupiter and Venus begin the month three fist’s widths apart, creeping closer and closer each night, until November 30, when we find the “king” slightly above Venus, with a crescent moon nearby. Don’t miss it!
Saturn
At the beginning of November, Saturn rises below the tail end of Leo the Lion around 3 AM. By month’s end, look for the ringed planet shortly after midnight. Saturn is not as bright as it has been recently due to the fact the rings of Saturn, which have been reflecting a great deal of the Sun’s light while they have been tilted, are slowly closing towards an “edge-on” view.
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Moons and Planets
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First Quarter
Full Moon
Last Quarter
New Moon
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November 5
November 13
November 19
November 27
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Star Parties
November 4 was our last star party of this season. Many thanks to the members of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society for their contribution to the continued success of our star-gazing evenings! We will begin again in March, 2009. These Star Parties are free and open to the public. Join us next year!
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For more information about the night sky, contact the Noble Planetarium at 817-255-9300 or planet@fwmsh.org.
Compiled by Linda Krouse of The Noble Planetarium.
Selected by the sciLINKS program, a service of National Science
Teachers Association. Copyright 2001
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