November 2017 Sky Calendar
Dec 7, 2017 4:08:17 GMT
Post by Joe on Dec 7, 2017 4:08:17 GMT
CVAS Monthly Sky Calendar for November 2017
Mercury – Can be found the low on the south-western horizon right at sunset for the whole month. At the start of the month it might be too difficult to see with it being only 5 degrees high and up for only around ½ hour after sunset. By months end this increases to being 9 degrees high and up for little more than an hour at sunset. During the month, the phase goes from 93% down to 43%, the size from 5 to 7.6 arc-seconds, and the magnitude from -0.4 to -0.02.
Saturn- Best viewed in the south-western skies as soon as it gets dark enough to view it. During to the month its magnitude will be around 0.56 and its diameter going from 15.4 to 15.1 arc-seconds. As it nears conjunction with the Sun next month on the 21st it is sinking lower and lower in the evening sky so it is best to view at the start of the month. To start the month at sunset it will be around 20 degrees high and up for close to 2 1/2 hours, but by month’s end it will only be 11 degrees high and up for just a little over a 1 hour after sunset.
Neptune – After being in opposition a couple months ago it is very well place for viewing in the southern skies right after twilight is fully over. To start the month it is up for about 9 hours after sunset, at month’s end it is up nearer to 7 hours after sunset. Its magnitude will around 7.87 with a diameter of around 2.26 arc-seconds during the month.
Uranus – After being in opposition last month, Uranus is still up for most of the night with it being up for over 12 ½ hours to start the month, by months end it is up for only around 11 hours. To start the month it is best viewed when it higher up in the south which is around 10PM, later in the month it will be in the southern skies closer to 8PM . During the month, its magnitude will around 5.7 with a diameter going from 3.70 to 3.65 arc-seconds.
See is.gd/urnep/ for finder charts for Uranus and Neptune from Sky&Telescope.
Mars – Mars can be found low in the Eastern/SE morning skies during the month. While it is getting easier to see with the naked eye with it being 30 degrees high and up close to 3 hours before sunrise to start the month, seeing any real details on it will be difficult until around spring next year. With a size of 3.9 to 4.2 arc-seconds for the month, it is still pretty small. Mar’s magnitude increases slightly during the month going from 1.8 to 1.7.
Venus – Venus also can be found in the eastern morning sky before sunrise but as it approaches Superior Conjunction with the Sun in a couple of months it is getting lower and lower. At the beginning of the month, it is up for 1 1/2 hours before sunrise, getting up to only 15 degrees high before the sun comes up. By month’s end it is up for less than 1 hour before sunrise and is only 7° high at sunrise. During the month it is at a gibbous phase, going from a 96% phase with a size of 10.4 arc-seconds to a phase of 99% with a size of 10.0 arc-seconds. Its magnitude is close to magnitude -3.93 for the whole month.
Jupiter – Jupiter was just in conjunction with the Sun near the end of last month, so to start the month is very low on eastern horizon at sunrise with it being up for less than ½ hour and only getting 4 degrees high by sunrise. By month’s end, it will be much easier to see being 22 degrees high at sunrise and up for over 2 hours. During the month the size goes from 30.6 to 31.3 arc-seconds with a magnitude close to -1.7 for the month.
On the morning of the 13th, Jupiter and Venus will only be ¼ of a degree from each other.