The big square of Pegasus still dominates the evening skies. Followed by Auriga and later during the night Taurus, Orion and Gemini. Not to forget the Pleiades though. The Moon is getting closer to the triple planets Venus, Jupiter and Mars in the early mornings. The mornings of the 6th, 7th and the 8th are the best to see the crescent Moon near the morning planets. Make sure you take some nice pictures. Mercury is somewhere too close to the Sun and hard to find. So is the planet with the rings, Saturn, which is far too close to the Sun in the evening skies. If you have a telescope or you have some good finding charts, try to find Uranus and Neptune in the evening skies. It is New Moon next week Wednesday. So ideal for dark skies and to look for dim objects and the Milky Way. At least if it is clear!
Wednesday 4 November
Today in 1869 the first issue was published of the journal Nature, edited by astronomer Sir Norman Lockyer. The first issue included articles on astronomy, plants, moths, science teaching in schools, an obituary for Thomas Graham, paleontology and meeting notices. Nature remains one of the most popular and well respected science journals in the world, printing research articles from across a wide range of scientific fields.
At 6.14 pm an Iridium flare appears in the South South East at an altitude of 45° in the constellation of Pegasus. Iridium flares are satellites in the sky which suddenly flashes up in the position given. Worth to watch!
You will need a small telescope or binocular for the following events on Jupiter. After midnight, the Great Red Spot of Jupiter transits at 2.04 am. The altitude of the planet is only 2°, but watch this later when Jupiter is higher above the horizon. The Great Red Spot will be still visible. At 3.25 am the Jupiter Moon Io will begin its shadow. At 4.27 am the Jupiter Moon Io will begin its transit over the planet. And at 5.35 am the Jupiter Moon Io is in inferior conjunction. The Jupiter Moon Io ends its shadow crossing over the planet at 5.42 am.
Watch the Moon’s Earthshine just before 6 am along with the beautiful sights of the 3 planets Mars, Venus and Jupiter. Send in your pictures!
Thursday 5 November
Today in 1662 Robert Hooke was appointed Curator of Experiments to the Royal Society in London. The position was established as a provision of the Royal Charter given by King Charles II to incorporate the Royal Society.
The Moon is close to Jupiter at 7 am. Watch this close encounter before Sun rise. The limb separation is 4° or 8 lunar diameters. The Moon is at an altitude of 40° and the Moon phase is 25%.
The International Space Station (ISS) crosses the disk of Moon at 8.28 am. The transit duration is only 0.39s, so uses a telescope or camera with good zoom and video. The Moon is in the South South West at an altitude 43°. This is a daylight observation and a good sky and telescope will be needed. If the orbit of ISS slightly changes, it might not cross the Moon. So check the day before with me for corrections.
At 6.08 pm a very bright Iridium flare is visible in the South South East at an altitude of 44° in the constellation Pegasus.
The Jupiter Moon Io reappears from its occultation at 3.51 am.
The Moon's Earthshine can be seen just before 6 am.
ISS appears at 5.56 am in the South South West. Culmination at 6.00 am in the South East at 11° and ISS disappears at 6.04 am in the Eastern horizon.
At 7 am the Moon is close to Jupiter. The limb separation is 4° or 8 lunar diameters. The Moon's altitude is 40° and the Moon phase is 25%. It is twilight and the Sun's elevation is -3°.
Friday 6 November
Today in 1959 the first two deaths occurred on the first motorway M1. It had been opened only four days earlier on 2 November 1959. Two lorry drivers died when they crashed into the back of vehicles halted by a minor crash.
Moon is passing some brighter stars in the sky. It is close to the star Ups Leo at about 3 am. The limb separation is less than a lunar diameter. The Moon altitude is only 6° so you will need a good and clear horizon to watch. At 6 am the Moon is close to the star Zavijah. The limb separation is less than 2° or about 4 lunar diameters. Watch the Moon's Earthshine. At about 6.35 am the Moon is close to the red planet Mars. The limb separation is only 2° or just over 4 lunar diameters. And at 7.20 am the Moon is close to Venus with limb separation of 3°or 5 lunar diameters. Watch this all well before Sun rise! Send in your pictures!
At 3.42 am the Great Red Spot of Jupiter transits the disc of the planet. Jupiter's altitude is 17°.
ISS appears at 6.38 am in the South West. Culmination is at 6.43 am in the South South East at 27°. ISS disappears at 6.48 am in the East.
Saturday 7 November
The Moon is in apogee at 9.58 pm. The distance of the Moon to the Earth is 405694 km or 253559 miles.
The Moon is close to Venus in daytime at 1 pm. If a clear blue sky, you should be able to see both the Moon and Venus with the naked eye. The limb separation is less than 2° or about 4 lunar diameters. The altitude is 16° and the Moon phase is 15%. The Sun's elevation is 18°, and the elongation from the Sun is 46°. Look for the Moon first and try to locate Venus.
The Jupiter Moon Europa begins its shadow cross after midnight at 3.10 am. Jupiter's altitude is 13°. At 5.17 am the Jupiter Moon Europa begins it transit over Jupiter.
ISS appears at 5.45 am in the South South West. Culmination at 5.50 am in the South South East at 19° and disappears at 5.55 am in the East.
Look for the Moon's Earthshine at about 6 am.
At 6.01 am the Jupiter Moon Europa ends it shadow cross over Jupiter.
Sunday 8 November
Today in 1656 Edmond Halley was born. Halley was an astronomer, geophysicist and mathematician who is best known for recognizing that bright comet, called comet Halley.
At 10.39 am, daytime, ISS will cross the disk of Moon. The transit duration is only 0.34s. Use a telescope or strong tele zoom and film the event. Look for the Moon in the South South West at an altitude of 31°. You will need a clear blue sky.
After midnight at 4.11 am the Jupiter Moon Ganymede ends its transit over Jupiter. Jupiter is at 22° high. One minute later, at 4.12 am the Jupiter Moon Europa is in Western elongation.
ISS appears at 4.55 am in the South at 8° and culmination is at 4.57 am in the South East at 13°. ISS disappears at 5.02 am in the East.
The Jupiter Moon Io is in Western elongation at 5.07 am. And at 5.21 am the Great Red Spot transits the Jupiter disc. Jupiter is at an altitude of 31°.
The Moon's Earthshine can be seen around 6 am.
ISS appears at 6.28 am in the West South West. Culmination at 6.33 am in the South South East at 41° and ISS disappears at 6.38 am in the East. ISS passes the planet Jupiter rather close at 6.33 am with a distance of about 1.4°or about 3 lunar diameters.
Monday 9 November
The meteor shower called Leonids is active until 23 November. These meteors all appear from the constellation Leo and do have persistent trails.
A rather bright Iridium flare is visible at 4.36 pm in the South West at 20° in the constellation Ophiuchus. Another flare appears at 5.54 pm in the West North West at altitude 10° in the constellation Bootes. And if you did not have enough, one other flare at 6.03 pm in the West North West at 8° in the constellation Bootes.
After midnight at 3.17 am the Jupiter Moon Europa reappears from its occultation. Jupiter is at altitude 15°.
At 4.41 am an Iridium flare appears in the South West at altitude 58°in the constellation Auriga.
ISS appears at 5.37 am in the South West at 12° and the culmination is at 5.40 am in the South South East at 30°. ISS disappears 5.45 am in the East. If the calculations are right and the orbit remains the same, ISS might cross the planet Mars at 5.41 am. The altitude is then 26°.
The Lunar crescent is visible at 6.35 am and 34 hours before New Moon. Altitude of the Moon at that time is 7°. The Sun altitude is -7.0°. The Moon rises at 5.40 am, 101 minutes before the Sun.
Tuesday 10 November
At 5.30 pm an Iridium flare appears in the West North West at 14° in the constellation Bootes. Another flare appears at 5.42 pm in the West North West at 12° in the constellation Bootes. And ... once more, a very bright flare at 5.47 pm in the South at 40° in the constellation Equuleus.
ISS appears after midnight at 4.47 am in the South South East at 21° high. Culmination is at the same time at 4.47 am in the South South East at 21° and ISS disappears at 4.52 am in the East. ISS passes close to the bright planet Venus at 4.49 am. Separation is less than half a degree or one lunar diameter.
After one orbit, about 90 minutes later ISS appears once more at 6.20 am in the West South West. ISS passes the star Alnilam and Alnitak at about 6.21 am. Culmination of ISS is at 6.23 am in the South South East at 56°. ISS disappears at 6.29 am in the East.
At 6.31 am an Iridium flare appears in the North at altitude 60° in the constellation Camelopardalis.
The Great Red Spot transits the planet Jupiter at 7 am. The altitude of Jupiter is then 41°.
Wednesday 11 November
An Iridium flare appears at 5.15 pm in the West North West at about 17° in the constellation of Bootes. Iridium flares are satellites in the sky which suddenly flashes up in the position given. Worth to watch!
It is New Moon today at 5.47 pm. Ideal to observe the dark skies while there is no Moon disturbing with light. At least when it is a clear sky!
After midnight, at 2.52 am the Great Red Spot transits the disc of Jupiter. Jupiter is at altitude 12°. You will need a small telescope or binoculars to watch the phenomenon on Jupiter.
The International Space Station or ISS appears at 3.56 am in the East South East at 10° and disappears already after 3 minutes at 3.59 am in the East.
At 4.17 am a rather bright Iridium flare appears in the North at 10° in the constellation Lyra.
The Jupiter Moon Io's shadow begins to cross the Jupiter planet at 5.18 am.
ISS appears once more at 5.29 am in the South West at 27°. Culmination or highest point is at 5.30 am in the South South East at 44° and disappears at 5.36 am in the East.
The Jupiter Moon Io transits begin at 6.24 am.
At 6.25 am a rather bright Iridium flare appears in the North at altitude 57° in the constellation Camelopardalis.
After another orbit of about 90 minutes, the International Space Station, ISS appears at 7.02 am in the West. Culmination at 7.07 am in the South at 69°. ISS disappears at 7.12 am in the East. Good night ...
Get in touch with me via www.patrickpoitevin.weebly.com if you need more information.