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November Observing Guide
- Neill
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14 years 6 months ago - 14 years 5 months ago #81856
by Neill
November Observing Guide was created by Neill
Hello,
Below is November's observing guide:
OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are UT and are based on an observing location of Belfast and covers the month of November)
The Sun
At the start of the month, the Sun rises at 07:30 and sets at 16:50. By the end of the month, it rises at 08:20 and sets at 16:00.
The Planets
Mercury is at superior conjunction on the 5th and is not safely observable this month.
Venus is a morning object during November. At the start of the month, it rises at 05:40, by month’s end it rises at 07:20. It maintains its brightness at mag -3.9 during the month and is moving back towards the sun with it at superior conjunction in January.
Mars is a late evening object during November. At the start of the month, it rises at 22:15, by the end of the month; it rises at 21:15. It brightens during the month from mag +0.4 to mag +0.0. It moves away from Cancer towards Leo during the month and lies within M44 – The Beehive Cluster during the first three mornings of the month.
Jupiter can be found in Capricornus during November. It continues to be well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it sets at 23:30, by month’s end it sets at 21:50. It fades during the month from mag -2.4 to mag -2.3. The gap between it and Neptune closes during the month to less than three degrees by month’s end. The four Galilean moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are visible with 10x50 binoculars or a small telescope and are worth a look. A list of eclipses, occultations and transits for the four moons can be found at the end of the guide.
Saturn is a morning object during November in Virgo and at the start of the month, rises at 03:30. By month’s end, it rises at 01:55 and maintains its brightness at mag +1.0 during the month. On the morning of the 15th, at 03:25 approximately, Titan will reappear from Saturn’s shadow and brighten from mag +12 to mag +8.
Uranus can be found in Pisces during October. It is well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it sets at 03:05. By the end of the month, it sets at 01:05. It maintains its brightness at mag +5.8 during the month. It lies to the South of Lambda Piscium (mag +4.5) – one of the stars of the Circlet Asterism and to the West of 20 Piscium (mag +5.5).
Neptune can be found in Capricornus during October. It continues to be well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it sets at 00:10 and by the end of the month, it sets at 22:15. It maintains its brightness at mag +7.9 during the month. It lies to the North of Delta Capricorni (mag +2.9) and Gamma Capricorni (mag +3.7).
The Moon
In November, the full moon is on the 2nd with the last quarter moon on the 9th and the new moon on the 16th. The first quarter moon is on the 24th.
On the evening of the 1st/morning of the 2nd, a near full moon lies within two degrees to the South of M74 – a mag +9 spiral galaxy.
On the evening of the 3rd/morning of the 4th, a two day past full moon lies close to the West of M45 – The Pleiades. They get closer as the night progresses with a four degree gap between the two at 22:00 closing to around one degree at 05:00.
On the morning of the 5th, a 93% illuminated waning gibbous moon encounters NGC 1746. This is a mag +6 open cluster and it will lie to the East of the moon with the gap between the two closing as the night progresses. It is around eight degrees in the evening, closing to four degrees in the dawn sky.
On the evening of the 5th, a 88% illuminated waning gibbous moon has M1, M35, M37 and NGC 1746 for company. At approximately 23:00, all four objects lie within eight degrees of the moon. The closest of these will be M1 – The Crab Nebula (mag +
which will be around three degrees to the South of the moon. The other three which are all open clusters all lie about seven degrees from the moon, with M37 (mag +6) to the North, M35 (mag +5) to the North-East and NGC 1746 to the South-West.
On the evening of the 6th, a 80% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies around six degrees from M35, to the North of the cluster.
On the evening of the 7th, a 70% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies near to NGC 2392 – Eskimo Nebula (mag +10), to the North of it. The gap between the two is less than two degrees at around 21:00; they then drift apart as the night progresses.
On the morning of the 9th, a 57% illuminated waning gibbous moon has Mars, M44 – The Beehive Cluster (mag +3) and M67 (mag +7) for company. The red planet lies within four degrees of the moon with the two open clusters about six degrees away from the moon. M44 and Mars lie to the North of the moon with M67 to its South.
On the morning of the 10th, a 44% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about six degrees to the South of Regulus (Alpha Leonis, mag +1.4).
On the morning of the 11th, a 34% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about eight degrees to the South of a trio of mag +9 galaxies - M95, M96 and M105. The first two are spiral galaxies with the third an elliptical galaxy.
On the morning of the 13th, a 14% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about eight degrees to the West of M104 – The Sombrero galaxy in the dawn skies. This is a mag +8 spiral galaxy.
On the morning of the 14th, a 7% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about five degrees to the South of Spica (Alpha Virginis, mag +1.0) in the dawn skies. Moonrise is around 05:10.
On the morning of the 15th, a 2% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about eight degrees to the South of Venus in the dawn skies. Moonrise is about 06:40 with sunrise at about 07:55, so BE CAREFUL.
On the evening of the 21st, a 22% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies about four degrees to the West of M75. This is a mag +9 globular cluster. Moonset is at about 20:00.
On the evening of the 23rd, a 40% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies about three degrees to the North of Jupiter and about four degrees to the North-West of Neptune. Moonset is about 22:30 with Jupiter setting before the moon at about 22:10.
Spacecraft
On the morning of the 13th at around 08:00, the Rosetta probe will fly past Earth for the last time on its way to Comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It will arrive at the comet in 2014. For further details on this go to the link to the ESA Rosetta page provided below in the Information and Links Section.
Meteors
The ZHR or Zenithal Hourly Rate is the number of meteors an observer would see in one hour under a clear, dark sky with a limiting apparent magnitude of 6.5 and if the radiant of the shower were in the zenith. The rate that can effectively be seen is nearly always lower and decreases as the radiant is closer to the horizon. The Zenith is the overhead point in the sky for an observer. The radiant is the point in the sky, from which (to a planetary observer) meteors appear to originate, i.e. the Perseids, for example, are meteors which appear to come from a point within the constellation of Perseus. A meteor storm is defined as activity greater or equal to a ZHR of 1000. A fireball is defined by the International Astronomical Union as a meteor brighter than any of the planets, i.e. magnitude -4 or brighter. The International Meteor Organisation alternatively defines it as a meteor which would have a magnitude of -3 or brighter at the zenith.
There are three showers during November. The first one is the Taurids which has two peaks – the Northern and Southern Taurids. Both peaks have ZHRs of around 5. This shower’s meteors are slow moving when compared to other showers, e.g. a Taurid meteor travels on average at 19 miles/second. This is pedestrian when compared with a Perseid which travels on average at 37 miles/second and a Leonid which travels on average at 45 miles/second. This shower can produce fireballs and is noted for a broad peak of activity so it is best to not restrict yourself to the stated peak days. The Northern peak is on the 5th with the Southern peak on the 12th. The radiant rises about 21:00 with a bright waning gibbous moon hampering the view for the first week of the month. However as the period progresses, the lunar phase decreases and the moon rises later and later, i.e. on the 9th, it rises at 23:30 and by the 11th, it rises at 02:20 on the morning of the 12th. This means the second week of the month is better for spotting any Taurid meteors especially fireballs.
The Leonid shower peaks on the 17th. As noted above, it produces very fast meteors and has a predicted enhanced ZHR of around 100 this year. This is because the Earth passes very close to trails laid down by the parent comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle in 1466 and 1533. Lunar conditions are perfect for this year’s event one day after new moon. There is a prediction for a short super peak at around 21:45 for about ten minutes on the 17th with possible storm level activity (ZHR up to 1,500). However we will probably miss this super peak as the radiant in the sickle of Leo does not rise until midnight. However this shower could still be spectacular, so take a look.
The final shower of the month is the Alpha Monocerotids. It peaks on the 21st with a variable ZHR of around 5; however short outbursts have been recorded in the past with ZHR’s up to 400. There is however no predictions of such activity this year, but take a look anyway in case of unexpected enhanced activity. Lunar conditions are perfect for this shower with the moon set long before the radiant rises at around midnight.
Comets
Comet 217P/2009 F3 Linear remains in Monoceros during November and moves in a North-Westerly direction. It is around mag +10 and fading slowly. It is visible from about midnight at the start of the month. By month’s end, it is visible from about 22:00.
Comet C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring) is a morning comet during November. It starts the month in Leo and moves in a Easterly direction towards Coma Berencies during the month. It is visible from 03:00 at the start of the month and by month’s end it is visible from 02:00. It is around mag +9 and is predicted to remain at similar magnitudes until next spring. Denebola (Beta Leonis, mag +2.1) can be used as a guide to locate the comet. It will slide past the star around the second week of the month, to the South of it. After that it will be to the East of the star.
Comet 81P/Wild 2 moves in a Easterly direction in November into Leo. It is a morning comet, visible from 03:00 at the start of the month and by month’s end it is visible from 01:00. It is currently around mag +12, predicted to peak at around mag +10 in early 2010. At around the middle of the month, it passes to the South of Regulus (Alpha Leonis, mag +1.4).
Date (UT) Dist. (deg) Comet Mag. Target Type Mag. Dia. (arcmin)
Nov. 13 6h 0.33 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4168 galaxy 11.3 2.8
Nov. 14 3h 0.42 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4189 galaxy 11.7 2.5
Nov. 15 4h 1.79 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 M98 galaxy 10.1 9.5
Nov. 15 7h 0.69 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4212 galaxy 11.2 3.0
Nov. 16 7h 0.70 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4267 galaxy 10.9 3.5
Nov. 17 5h 0.97 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4305 galaxy 12.6 2.2
Nov. 19 3h 1.49 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4413 galaxy 12.7 2.3
Nov. 19 4h 1.15 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 M86 galaxy 9.2 7.4
Nov. 19 6h 0.99 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4402 galaxy 11.7 4.1
Nov. 20 3h 0.62 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4377 galaxy 11.8 1.8
Nov. 21 2h 1.04 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4473 galaxy 10.2 4.5
Nov. 21 4h 0.46 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4459 galaxy 10.4 3.8
Nov. 24 5h 0.62 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 M91 galaxy 10.2 5.4
Nov. 27 7h 2.93 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 24 Com binary 5.0+6.5 0.3
Nov. 29 6h 0.24 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4651 galaxy 10.7 3.8
Deep Sky
On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Andromeda, M31 – The Andromeda galaxy can be observed along with its satellite galaxies M32 and M110. In Perseus, there is the open cluster M34 and the excellent Double Cluster – NGC 869 and 884. In Triangulum, there is the galaxy M33. In Auriga there are three open clusters M36, M37 and M38 and also M35 in Gemini. Taurus has the excellent Pleiades – M45, the Hyades and also M1 – The Crab Nebula. Orion returns to our skies with M42 – The Great Orion Nebula and also Cancer with M44 – The Beehive Cluster.
General Notes
Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky - it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon.
Clear Skies
Neill McKeown
Information Sources Used and Links
www.skyviewcafe.com - Used for the Sun and Planets section. Also partly used for the Moon Section
Sky at Night Magazine Observing Guide and CD
www.aerith.net and cometchasing.skyhound.com – Used for the Comet Section for information and finder charts
www.ast.cam.ac.uk/%7Ejds/ - BAA and SPA Comet page
kometen.fg-vds.de/fgk_hpe.htm - German Comet page
BAA Handbook
Stardust Magazine
Sky Guide 2009 – South Dublin Astronomical Society
www.esa.int/esaMI/Rosetta/index.html - ESA Rosetta Page
www.heavens-above.com – For the latest ISS passes, Iridium Flares and Shuttle launches
www.irishastronomy.org – Irish Federation of Astronomy Societies Website
www.stronge.org.uk – Excellent weather site including Space Weather
irishastro.org.uk – Irish Astronomical Association website
www.eaas.co.uk – Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society
Galilean Moons – Eclipses, Occultations and Transits – November 09
05-November-09 20:08 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
06-November-09 18:48 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
06-November-09 18:58 Ganymede begins to cross Jupiter's disc
06-November-09 19:45 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
06-November-09 21:05 Io exits off Jupiter's disc
07-November-09 18:14 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
07-November-09 20:39 Europa is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
08-November-09 20:50 Callisto's eclipse ends
09-November-09 17:48 Europa's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
09-November-09 20:27 Europa exits off Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 12:12 Ganymede's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 17:34 Ganymede's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 19:24 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 20:44 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 21:41 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
14-November-09 20:10 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
15-November-09 17:29 Io exits off Jupiter's disc
16-November-09 17:34 Europa's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
16-November-09 20:12 Europa begins to cross Jupiter's disc
16-November-09 20:25 Europa's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
17-November-09 17:26 Callisto exits off Jupiter's disc
18-November-09 12:38 Europa reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
20-November-09 22:40 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
21-November-09 18:29 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
22-November-09 18:08 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
22-November-09 19:25 Io exits off Jupiter's disc
23-November-09 20:14 Europa's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
24-November-09 20:31 Ganymede reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
28-November-09 20:26 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
29-November-09 17:49 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
29-November-09 19:05 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
29-November-09 20:05 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
30-November-09 18:30 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
Neill
Below is November's observing guide:
OBSERVING GUIDE
(Please note all times are UT and are based on an observing location of Belfast and covers the month of November)
The Sun
At the start of the month, the Sun rises at 07:30 and sets at 16:50. By the end of the month, it rises at 08:20 and sets at 16:00.
The Planets
Mercury is at superior conjunction on the 5th and is not safely observable this month.
Venus is a morning object during November. At the start of the month, it rises at 05:40, by month’s end it rises at 07:20. It maintains its brightness at mag -3.9 during the month and is moving back towards the sun with it at superior conjunction in January.
Mars is a late evening object during November. At the start of the month, it rises at 22:15, by the end of the month; it rises at 21:15. It brightens during the month from mag +0.4 to mag +0.0. It moves away from Cancer towards Leo during the month and lies within M44 – The Beehive Cluster during the first three mornings of the month.
Jupiter can be found in Capricornus during November. It continues to be well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it sets at 23:30, by month’s end it sets at 21:50. It fades during the month from mag -2.4 to mag -2.3. The gap between it and Neptune closes during the month to less than three degrees by month’s end. The four Galilean moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are visible with 10x50 binoculars or a small telescope and are worth a look. A list of eclipses, occultations and transits for the four moons can be found at the end of the guide.
Saturn is a morning object during November in Virgo and at the start of the month, rises at 03:30. By month’s end, it rises at 01:55 and maintains its brightness at mag +1.0 during the month. On the morning of the 15th, at 03:25 approximately, Titan will reappear from Saturn’s shadow and brighten from mag +12 to mag +8.
Uranus can be found in Pisces during October. It is well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it sets at 03:05. By the end of the month, it sets at 01:05. It maintains its brightness at mag +5.8 during the month. It lies to the South of Lambda Piscium (mag +4.5) – one of the stars of the Circlet Asterism and to the West of 20 Piscium (mag +5.5).
Neptune can be found in Capricornus during October. It continues to be well placed for observation during this period. At the start of the month, it sets at 00:10 and by the end of the month, it sets at 22:15. It maintains its brightness at mag +7.9 during the month. It lies to the North of Delta Capricorni (mag +2.9) and Gamma Capricorni (mag +3.7).
The Moon
In November, the full moon is on the 2nd with the last quarter moon on the 9th and the new moon on the 16th. The first quarter moon is on the 24th.
On the evening of the 1st/morning of the 2nd, a near full moon lies within two degrees to the South of M74 – a mag +9 spiral galaxy.
On the evening of the 3rd/morning of the 4th, a two day past full moon lies close to the West of M45 – The Pleiades. They get closer as the night progresses with a four degree gap between the two at 22:00 closing to around one degree at 05:00.
On the morning of the 5th, a 93% illuminated waning gibbous moon encounters NGC 1746. This is a mag +6 open cluster and it will lie to the East of the moon with the gap between the two closing as the night progresses. It is around eight degrees in the evening, closing to four degrees in the dawn sky.
On the evening of the 5th, a 88% illuminated waning gibbous moon has M1, M35, M37 and NGC 1746 for company. At approximately 23:00, all four objects lie within eight degrees of the moon. The closest of these will be M1 – The Crab Nebula (mag +
which will be around three degrees to the South of the moon. The other three which are all open clusters all lie about seven degrees from the moon, with M37 (mag +6) to the North, M35 (mag +5) to the North-East and NGC 1746 to the South-West.On the evening of the 6th, a 80% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies around six degrees from M35, to the North of the cluster.
On the evening of the 7th, a 70% illuminated waning gibbous moon lies near to NGC 2392 – Eskimo Nebula (mag +10), to the North of it. The gap between the two is less than two degrees at around 21:00; they then drift apart as the night progresses.
On the morning of the 9th, a 57% illuminated waning gibbous moon has Mars, M44 – The Beehive Cluster (mag +3) and M67 (mag +7) for company. The red planet lies within four degrees of the moon with the two open clusters about six degrees away from the moon. M44 and Mars lie to the North of the moon with M67 to its South.
On the morning of the 10th, a 44% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about six degrees to the South of Regulus (Alpha Leonis, mag +1.4).
On the morning of the 11th, a 34% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about eight degrees to the South of a trio of mag +9 galaxies - M95, M96 and M105. The first two are spiral galaxies with the third an elliptical galaxy.
On the morning of the 13th, a 14% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about eight degrees to the West of M104 – The Sombrero galaxy in the dawn skies. This is a mag +8 spiral galaxy.
On the morning of the 14th, a 7% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about five degrees to the South of Spica (Alpha Virginis, mag +1.0) in the dawn skies. Moonrise is around 05:10.
On the morning of the 15th, a 2% illuminated waning crescent moon lies about eight degrees to the South of Venus in the dawn skies. Moonrise is about 06:40 with sunrise at about 07:55, so BE CAREFUL.
On the evening of the 21st, a 22% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies about four degrees to the West of M75. This is a mag +9 globular cluster. Moonset is at about 20:00.
On the evening of the 23rd, a 40% illuminated waxing crescent moon lies about three degrees to the North of Jupiter and about four degrees to the North-West of Neptune. Moonset is about 22:30 with Jupiter setting before the moon at about 22:10.
Spacecraft
On the morning of the 13th at around 08:00, the Rosetta probe will fly past Earth for the last time on its way to Comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. It will arrive at the comet in 2014. For further details on this go to the link to the ESA Rosetta page provided below in the Information and Links Section.
Meteors
The ZHR or Zenithal Hourly Rate is the number of meteors an observer would see in one hour under a clear, dark sky with a limiting apparent magnitude of 6.5 and if the radiant of the shower were in the zenith. The rate that can effectively be seen is nearly always lower and decreases as the radiant is closer to the horizon. The Zenith is the overhead point in the sky for an observer. The radiant is the point in the sky, from which (to a planetary observer) meteors appear to originate, i.e. the Perseids, for example, are meteors which appear to come from a point within the constellation of Perseus. A meteor storm is defined as activity greater or equal to a ZHR of 1000. A fireball is defined by the International Astronomical Union as a meteor brighter than any of the planets, i.e. magnitude -4 or brighter. The International Meteor Organisation alternatively defines it as a meteor which would have a magnitude of -3 or brighter at the zenith.
There are three showers during November. The first one is the Taurids which has two peaks – the Northern and Southern Taurids. Both peaks have ZHRs of around 5. This shower’s meteors are slow moving when compared to other showers, e.g. a Taurid meteor travels on average at 19 miles/second. This is pedestrian when compared with a Perseid which travels on average at 37 miles/second and a Leonid which travels on average at 45 miles/second. This shower can produce fireballs and is noted for a broad peak of activity so it is best to not restrict yourself to the stated peak days. The Northern peak is on the 5th with the Southern peak on the 12th. The radiant rises about 21:00 with a bright waning gibbous moon hampering the view for the first week of the month. However as the period progresses, the lunar phase decreases and the moon rises later and later, i.e. on the 9th, it rises at 23:30 and by the 11th, it rises at 02:20 on the morning of the 12th. This means the second week of the month is better for spotting any Taurid meteors especially fireballs.
The Leonid shower peaks on the 17th. As noted above, it produces very fast meteors and has a predicted enhanced ZHR of around 100 this year. This is because the Earth passes very close to trails laid down by the parent comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle in 1466 and 1533. Lunar conditions are perfect for this year’s event one day after new moon. There is a prediction for a short super peak at around 21:45 for about ten minutes on the 17th with possible storm level activity (ZHR up to 1,500). However we will probably miss this super peak as the radiant in the sickle of Leo does not rise until midnight. However this shower could still be spectacular, so take a look.
The final shower of the month is the Alpha Monocerotids. It peaks on the 21st with a variable ZHR of around 5; however short outbursts have been recorded in the past with ZHR’s up to 400. There is however no predictions of such activity this year, but take a look anyway in case of unexpected enhanced activity. Lunar conditions are perfect for this shower with the moon set long before the radiant rises at around midnight.
Comets
Comet 217P/2009 F3 Linear remains in Monoceros during November and moves in a North-Westerly direction. It is around mag +10 and fading slowly. It is visible from about midnight at the start of the month. By month’s end, it is visible from about 22:00.
Comet C/2007 Q3 (Siding Spring) is a morning comet during November. It starts the month in Leo and moves in a Easterly direction towards Coma Berencies during the month. It is visible from 03:00 at the start of the month and by month’s end it is visible from 02:00. It is around mag +9 and is predicted to remain at similar magnitudes until next spring. Denebola (Beta Leonis, mag +2.1) can be used as a guide to locate the comet. It will slide past the star around the second week of the month, to the South of it. After that it will be to the East of the star.
Comet 81P/Wild 2 moves in a Easterly direction in November into Leo. It is a morning comet, visible from 03:00 at the start of the month and by month’s end it is visible from 01:00. It is currently around mag +12, predicted to peak at around mag +10 in early 2010. At around the middle of the month, it passes to the South of Regulus (Alpha Leonis, mag +1.4).
Date (UT) Dist. (deg) Comet Mag. Target Type Mag. Dia. (arcmin)
Nov. 13 6h 0.33 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4168 galaxy 11.3 2.8
Nov. 14 3h 0.42 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4189 galaxy 11.7 2.5
Nov. 15 4h 1.79 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 M98 galaxy 10.1 9.5
Nov. 15 7h 0.69 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4212 galaxy 11.2 3.0
Nov. 16 7h 0.70 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4267 galaxy 10.9 3.5
Nov. 17 5h 0.97 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4305 galaxy 12.6 2.2
Nov. 19 3h 1.49 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4413 galaxy 12.7 2.3
Nov. 19 4h 1.15 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 M86 galaxy 9.2 7.4
Nov. 19 6h 0.99 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4402 galaxy 11.7 4.1
Nov. 20 3h 0.62 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4377 galaxy 11.8 1.8
Nov. 21 2h 1.04 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4473 galaxy 10.2 4.5
Nov. 21 4h 0.46 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4459 galaxy 10.4 3.8
Nov. 24 5h 0.62 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 M91 galaxy 10.2 5.4
Nov. 27 7h 2.93 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 24 Com binary 5.0+6.5 0.3
Nov. 29 6h 0.24 C/2007 Q3 ( Siding Spring ) 9.3 NGC 4651 galaxy 10.7 3.8
Deep Sky
On the deep sky front this month, galaxies M81 and M82 can be observed in Ursa Major. In Andromeda, M31 – The Andromeda galaxy can be observed along with its satellite galaxies M32 and M110. In Perseus, there is the open cluster M34 and the excellent Double Cluster – NGC 869 and 884. In Triangulum, there is the galaxy M33. In Auriga there are three open clusters M36, M37 and M38 and also M35 in Gemini. Taurus has the excellent Pleiades – M45, the Hyades and also M1 – The Crab Nebula. Orion returns to our skies with M42 – The Great Orion Nebula and also Cancer with M44 – The Beehive Cluster.
General Notes
Always keep an eye out for Aurorae. Other interesting naked eye phenomena to look out for include the Zodiacal Light and the Gegenschein. Both are caused by sunlight reflecting off dust particles which are present in the solar system. The Zodiacal Light can be seen in the West after evening twilight has disappeared or in the East before the morning twilight. The best time of year to see the phenomenon is late-Feb to early-April in the evening sky and September/October in the morning sky - it's then that the ecliptic, along which the cone of the zodiacal light lies, is steepest in our skies. The Gegenschein can be seen in the area of the sky opposite the sun. To view either, you must get yourself to a very dark site to cut out the light pollution. When trying to observe either of these phenomena, it is best to do so when the moon is below the horizon.
Clear Skies
Neill McKeown
Information Sources Used and Links
www.skyviewcafe.com - Used for the Sun and Planets section. Also partly used for the Moon Section
Sky at Night Magazine Observing Guide and CD
www.aerith.net and cometchasing.skyhound.com – Used for the Comet Section for information and finder charts
www.ast.cam.ac.uk/%7Ejds/ - BAA and SPA Comet page
kometen.fg-vds.de/fgk_hpe.htm - German Comet page
BAA Handbook
Stardust Magazine
Sky Guide 2009 – South Dublin Astronomical Society
www.esa.int/esaMI/Rosetta/index.html - ESA Rosetta Page
www.heavens-above.com – For the latest ISS passes, Iridium Flares and Shuttle launches
www.irishastronomy.org – Irish Federation of Astronomy Societies Website
www.stronge.org.uk – Excellent weather site including Space Weather
irishastro.org.uk – Irish Astronomical Association website
www.eaas.co.uk – Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society
Galilean Moons – Eclipses, Occultations and Transits – November 09
05-November-09 20:08 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
06-November-09 18:48 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
06-November-09 18:58 Ganymede begins to cross Jupiter's disc
06-November-09 19:45 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
06-November-09 21:05 Io exits off Jupiter's disc
07-November-09 18:14 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
07-November-09 20:39 Europa is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
08-November-09 20:50 Callisto's eclipse ends
09-November-09 17:48 Europa's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
09-November-09 20:27 Europa exits off Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 12:12 Ganymede's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 17:34 Ganymede's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 19:24 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 20:44 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
13-November-09 21:41 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
14-November-09 20:10 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
15-November-09 17:29 Io exits off Jupiter's disc
16-November-09 17:34 Europa's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
16-November-09 20:12 Europa begins to cross Jupiter's disc
16-November-09 20:25 Europa's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
17-November-09 17:26 Callisto exits off Jupiter's disc
18-November-09 12:38 Europa reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
20-November-09 22:40 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
21-November-09 18:29 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
22-November-09 18:08 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
22-November-09 19:25 Io exits off Jupiter's disc
23-November-09 20:14 Europa's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
24-November-09 20:31 Ganymede reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
28-November-09 20:26 Io is eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow
29-November-09 17:49 Io's shadow begins to cross Jupiter's disc
29-November-09 19:05 Io begins to cross Jupiter's disc
29-November-09 20:05 Io's shadow exits off Jupiter's disc
30-November-09 18:30 Io reappears from behind Jupiter's disc
Neill
Last edit: 14 years 5 months ago by Neill. Reason: Updating comet information
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- michaeloconnell
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- Keith g
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- Seanie_Morris
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14 years 6 months ago #81872
by Seanie_Morris
Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
Replied by Seanie_Morris on topic Re:November Observing Guide
Wow, getting it up nice and 'early' this month Neill! 
Stickied.
Seanie.
Stickied.
Seanie.
Midlands Astronomy Club.
Radio Presenter (Midlands 103), Space Enthusiast, Astronomy Outreach Co-ordinator.
Former IFAS Chairperson and Secretary.
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- Paul FitzGerald
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14 years 5 months ago - 14 years 5 months ago #81981
by Paul FitzGerald
Paul Fitz
MAC Treasurer
'Astronomy shows how small and insignificant and rare and precious we all are.' - Contact.
Replied by Paul FitzGerald on topic Re:November Observing Guide
Great work lads. Very thorough. 
Paul.
Paul.
Paul Fitz
MAC Treasurer
'Astronomy shows how small and insignificant and rare and precious we all are.' - Contact.
Last edit: 14 years 5 months ago by Paul FitzGerald.
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