Monday, October 31, 2022
Southern Skywatch November 2022 edition is now out!
The November edition of Southern Skywatch is now up.
This month the planetary action remains mostly in the evening skies, with 3 bright planets visible in the evening. Venus and Mercury return to the evening skies towards the end of the month, low in the taillight. The Leonid meteor Shower is washed out by the bright Moon. Twilight total Lunar eclipse.
Moon at perigee October 30. November the 1st will be a perigee First Quarter Moon. November 1-2; the Moon is close to Saturn. November 4-5; the Moon close to Jupiter. November 8; Full Moon (twilight total eclipse). November 11; Mars is close to the waning Moon, Mars and Beta Taurii (Elnath) form a triangle. November 14; apogee Moon. November 16; Last Quarter Moon. Morning November 19; Leonid meteor shower peaks. November 23; New Moon. Moon at perigee November 26. November 29; the crescent Moon is close to Saturn again.
Mercury returns to the evening sky this month, but never really makes it out of the twilight glow until late in the month, next month it will be excellent. On the 30th Mercury is just under a hand-span above the eastern horizon 30 minutes after sunset, just above Venus. You will need a clear, unobstructed horizon like the desert or ocean and you may need binoculars to see them.
Venus returns to the evening sky this month, but never really makes it out of the twilight glow until late in the month, next month it will be excellent. On the 30th Venus is just under a three finger-widths above the eastern horizon 30 minutes after sunset, just below mercury. You will need a clear, unobstructed horizon like the desert or ocean and you may need binoculars to see them.
Mars is becoming brighter as it nears opposition, it starts the Month between Beta 9Elnath and Zeta Taurii (the tips of the horns) then reverses direction and climbs the “horns” of Taurus the Bull, towards the Hyades and Red Aldebaran. Mars is now rising before midnight but remains best seen in the morning skies. On the 11th Mars is around 3° from the waning moon, forming a triangle with Elnath (beta Taurii), mid power binocular fields will fit the trio in.
Jupiter rises before the sky is fully dark and climbs higher in the evening sky and is an excellent telescopic object in the early evening to early morning. Jupiter was at opposition, when it is biggest and brightest as seen from Earth on September the 27th. Jupiter is visible the whole night setting just before e astronomical twilight. On the 4th and 5th Jupiter is just above, and then below the waxing Moon.
Saturn is visible all evening long setting just after midnight. Saturn was at opposition on the 15th of August and is visible high above the north-western sky when the sky is fully dark. Saturn will be high enough for good telescopic observation in the evening and very early morning. Saturn forms a line with delta and gamma Capricorn, and is close to iota capricornii at the beginning of the month. On the 1st and 2nd the First Quarter and waxing Moon is close to Saturn. On November 29; the crescent Moon is close to Saturn again. Nov 1,9, 17 and 25 sees Titan close to Saturn.
Moon: perigee October 30 (November the 1st will be a perigee First Quarter Moon) and November 26. Apogee November 14
Labels: southern skywatch
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