SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this month's celestial events. All dates are based on Universal Time (UT).

Brief Calendar of Events

1 Sat First Quarter Moon
3 Mon Neptune at east quadrature
9 Sun Full Moon
Total Lunar Eclipse
10 Mon Moon at apogee
17 Mon Last Quarter Moon
18 Tue Leonids meteor shower
21 Fri Uranus at east quadrature
22 Sat Alpha Monocerotids meteor shower
23 Sun New Moon
Total Solar Eclipse
Moon at perigee
25 Tue Moon occults Mercury
30 Sun First Quarter Moon

The Sun and Moon

As seen from the Earth, the Sun is moving from the constellation Libra through the constellation Scorpio to the non-zodiacal constellation Ophiuchus.

With perigee occuring within hours of New Moon, very high tides can be expected on 23 November. Two days later, the Moon occults the planet Mercury during daylight hours.

The Planets

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for "wanderer." Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars.
Mercury
Mercury does not appear in the sunset sky until mid-month. It then rises high above the horizon for southern hemisphere observers but remains rather low and difficult to spot from the northern hemisphere. It undergoes a daytime occultation by the Moon on 25 November. This tiny planet races through the constellations Libra, Scorpius, Ophiuchus and Sagittarius.
Venus
Southern hemisphere planet watchers have the best views of the "evening star" as it rises ever higher above the western horizon just after sunset. However, this bright planet is getting easier to see for viewers in the northern hemisphere. Venus is located in the constellations as Mercury this month.
Mars
The red planet does not set until just after midnight in the constellation Aquarius.
Jupiter
Rising as Mars sets, Jupiter will be visible from the early morning hours in the constellation Leo.
Saturn
The ringed planet rises in early evening in the constellation Gemini.
Uranus
Found in the constellation Aquarius, Uranus sets around midnight. On 21 November is reaches east quadrature.
Neptune
Optical aids will be necessary to locate Neptune before it sets in late evening in the constellation Capricornus. Like its fellow gas giant Uranus, it reaches east quadrature this month, on 3 November.
Pluto
Pluto is difficult to see since it sets in the early evening in the constellation Ophiuchus.

Minor Planets, Comets and Meteors

Minor Planets
A number of interesting minor planets populate the solar system.
Comets
There are no naked-eye comets visible this month but 2P/Encke makes its closest approach to the Earth on 17 November. It is best seen with binoculars or a small telescope from the northern hemisphere as it races through the constellations Lacerta, Cygnus, Vulpecula, Sagitta, Aquila, Hercules and Ophiuchus. It is inbound and should reach naked eye visiblity for southern hemisphere observers as it approaches perihelion next month.
Meteors
The Last Quarter Moon seriously hampers viewing of the Leonids meteor shower. However, since the Alpha Monocerotids peak the day before New Moon, skies will be dark for this not-so-well-known shower.

The Celestial Sphere

Constellations are patterns of stars in the sky. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) recognises 88 different constellations. The brightest stars as seen from the Earth are easy to spot but do you know their proper names? With a set of binoculars you can look for fainter objects such as nebulae and galaxies or some of the closest stars to the Sun.

Descriptions of the sky for observers in both the northern and southern hemispheres are available for the following times this month. Subtract one hour from your local time if daylight savings time is in effect. (Note: These times are approximate.)

Northern Hemisphere : 45° N

Southern Hemisphere : 30° S

For More Information...

Credits

Much of this information can be found in this month's issue of your favourite amateur astronomy magazine available in your local bookshop. Another excellent source is the current edition of the Astronomical Calendar by Guy Ottewell and published by the Universal Workshop at Furman University.

The image of the Sun in the SkyEye banner is courtesy of the SOHO/EIT consortium. SOHO is a project of international cooperation between ESA and NASA. Used with permission.

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