As November unfurls its celestial tapestry, the universe provides a charming show for avid stargazers and astronomers alike.
This month, our cosmic theater hosts a sequence of meteor showers, every with its personal distinctive story. Planets, too, take their positions within the grand celestial ballet, with Jupiter poised for a exceptional opposition, showcasing its splendor at its closest strategy to Earth.
Be a part of us on a journey by means of the November evening sky, the place cosmic phenomena unfold in a mesmerizing dance of celestial our bodies.
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Abstract of Meteor Showers in November 2023
- Southern Taurids: Begin on September 10; peak on October 10; finish on November 20.
- Orionids: Begin on October 2; peak on October 22; finish on November 7.
- Northern Taurids: Begin on October 20; peak on November 12; finish on December 10.
- Leonids: Begin on November 6; peak on November 17; finish on November 30.
- α-Monocerotids: Begin on November 15; peak on November 21; finish on November 25.
- November Orionids: Begin on November 13; peak on November 28; finish on December 6.
- Phoenicids: Begin on November 28; peak on December 2; finish on December 9.
Abstract of Conjunctions in November 2023
- Conjunction of the Moon and Venus in Virgo on November 9.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury in Scorpius on November 14.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Aquarius on November 20.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Aries on November 25.
November 1: Jupiter at perigee
The perigee is the purpose within the orbit of Jupiter at which it’s nearest to the Earth. It can move as shut as 3.98 AU of us and attain a most brightness of obvious magnitude -2.9. Look within the constellation of Aries. The Moon shall be 18 days previous or waning gibbous.
At each perigee there’s additionally an opposition at practically the identical time. Jupiter shall be at opposition on November 3.
November 3: Jupiter at opposition
After reaching perigee on November 1st, Jupiter shall be at opposition on the third. It will likely be reverse to the Solar within the sky, reaching its highest level within the sky round midnight native time, no matter the place you’re on the planet. Look within the constellation of Aries. The Moon shall be 20 days previous or waning gibbous.
The time round Jupiter’s perigee and opposition is one of the best alternative to look at Jupiter, as a result of will probably be at its brightest with an obvious magnitude of -2.9.
November 5: Asteroid 18 Melpomene at opposition
Asteroid 18 Melpomene will attain opposition, when it lies reverse to the Solar within the sky. It can attain the best level within the sky round midnight native time.
On this event, Melpomene will move inside 0.863 AU of Earth and attain a peak brightness of magnitude 8.0. Sadly even on the peak, this asteroid shall be too faint to look at with the bare eye. You will want a minimum of a 4 inch telescope, which you must level to the constellation of Eridanus. The Moon shall be a waning crescent at 22 days previous.
Melpomene was found in 1852 by John Russell Hind, who named it after Melpomenē, the Muse of tragedy in Greek mythology.
It’s a massive and vivid asteroid positioned in the principle asteroid belt with a imply diameter of about 140 km. It orbits the Solar at 2.296 AU (semi-major axis) which takes 3.48 years to finish. (Supply: NASA JPL Small-Body Database Lookup for 18 Melpomene)
Curiously, throughout an occultation of a star by Melpomene in 1978, a moon with a diameter of a minimum of 37 km was detected. Sadly this discovering hasn’t been efficiently confirmed, so it’s unsure if this moon exists.
November 9: Conjunction of the Moon and Venus
The Moon and Venus will attain conjunction passing 1°00′ withing one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
Shortly after the conjunction, when the 2 our bodies not share the identical proper ascension, they’ll get even nearer to one another at solely 53.1 arcminutes of one another.
Each shall be seen within the constellation of Virgo, with the Moon at obvious magnitude -10.6, and Venus at -4.3. The Moon shall be a 26 days previous waning crescent.
November 10: Comet C/2023 H2 (Lemmon) at perigee
The just lately found comet C/2023 H2 (Lemmon) will attain perigee (closest strategy to the Earth in its orbit) at a distance of of 0.19 AU. At about the identical time the comet will attain peak brightness, so don’t miss this chance!
With an obvious magnitude of 5.3, this comet will be noticed with customary binoculars. Search for it within the constellation of Hercules. Fortunately, the Moon won’t intervene with observations as a result of will probably be a 27 days previous skinny waning crescent.
November 12: Northern Taurid meteor bathe peak
The Northern Taurids are a small meteor bathe that may have a mean of solely 5 meteors per hour throughout the peak if the viewing circumstances are excellent. On condition that the Moon shall be 29 days previous and thus only a day away from a brand new moon, these circumstances shall be fairly near excellent.
Some meteors may also be seen between October 20 and December 10. They’ll seem to radiate from the constellation of Taurus at a mean velocity of 29 km/s.
The Northern Taurid meteor bathe originates from particles left by asteroid 2004 TG10. This asteroid of the Apollo group is an near-Earth object and probably vulnerable to colliding with the Earth. It’s estimated to be 1.3 km in diameter and it’s theorized that this asteroid could be a fragment of comet Encke.
November 13: Uranus at opposition
Uranus will attain a degree reverse to the Solar within the sky, often called an opposition. This may occur round midnight native time, no matter the place on the planet you’re observing from.
At across the similar time Uranus will even attain perigee or closest strategy to Earth at a distance of 18.63 AU. This is able to be one of the best time to look at the ice large.
With an obvious magnitude of 5.6, Uranus will be noticed with a normal pair of binoculars. Level them within the Aries constellation. (For the constellation map, scroll to the highest as it’s already proven when Jupiter is at perigee.) There shall be no interference from the Moon as a result of it’ll attain the brand new moon part on today.
November 14: Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury
The Moon and Mercury will move inside 1°39′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension, in what’s termed a conjunction.
The 2 celestial our bodies shall be within the constellation of Scorpius, with the Moon at obvious magnitude -8.3, and Mercury at -0.4. The Moon shall be a really skinny waxing crescent sooner or later previous.
As Mercury is all the time near the Solar, be very cautious to not look immediately on the Solar, or worse, level binoculars or a telescope at it. This could gravely injury your eyes, even leading to everlasting blindness.
November 17: Leonid meteor bathe peak
The Leonids are a medium sized meteor bathe with a mean of 15 meteors throughout the peak if viewing circumstances are optimum. These circumstances ought to be somewhat good because the Moon shall be solely 5 days previous as a waxing crescent.
Some meteors might also be noticed between November 6 and November 30. They’ll seem to radiate from the constellation of Leo on the quick velocity of 71 km/s on common.
The father or mother physique of the Leonid meteor bathe has been recognized as comet 55P/Tempel–Tuttle, a retrograde periodic comet with an orbital interval of 33 years.
November 20: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
The Moon and Saturn will attain conjunction by passing at 2°43′ from one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension. The pair shall be too far aside to be seen collectively utilizing a telescope, however they are going to be viewable to the bare eye or with a pair of binoculars.
Shortly after the conjunction, the Moon and Saturn will move even nearer to one another at 2°29′ throughout the appulse (shut strategy), however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The 2 our bodies will meet within the constellation of Aquarius with an obvious magnitude of -12.0 for the Moon and 0.6 for Saturn. The Moon shall be waxing gibbous at 7 days previous.
November 21: α-Monocerotid meteor bathe peak
The Alpha Monocerotids are a variable price meteor bathe. Each few many years it could produce an outburst of as a lot as 1000 meteors per hour on the peak. Sadly, this 12 months’s peak gained’t be a kind of instances. We will solely count on a couple of (a single digit quantity) of them per hour. The Moon will intervene considerably as it’s 9 days previous and waxing gibbous on the time.
Some meteors might also be seen between November 15 and November 25 radiating from the constellation of Monoceros on the excessive velocity of 65 km/s on common.
The meteors originate from materials left behind by comet C/1917 F1 (Mellish), a Halley-type comet with an orbital interval of 143 years.
November 25: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter shall be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 2°46′ of one another.
At across the similar time the 2 our bodies will even make a detailed strategy (appulse) reaching 2°31′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The 2 celestial our bodies will meet within the constellation Aries with the Moon at obvious magnitude of -12.7 and Jupiter at -2.8. (For the constellation map, scroll to the highest as it’s already proven when Jupiter is at perigee.) The Moon shall be waxing gibbous and 12 days previous.
November 26: Shut strategy of the Moon and the Pleiades
The Moon and the Pleiades (often known as M45 or Messier 45) will make a detailed strategy, passing inside 1°00′ of one another. They are going to be too far aside to suit inside the subject of view of a telescope, however you possibly can see them with the bare eye or by means of a pair of binoculars.
Each objects shall be within the constellation of Taurus with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -12.7; and M45 at 1.3. (For the constellation map, scroll as much as November 12 as it’s already proven for the Northern Taurid meteor bathe.) The Moon shall be 13 days previous waning gibbous, solely a day away from a full moon.
November 28: November Orionid meteor bathe peak
The November Orionids are the ultimate meteor bathe to peak this month. It’s a small one with solely 3 meteors per hour on common throughout the peak, with excellent viewing circumstances. Sadly the viewing circumstances won’t be excellent due to the Moon’s interference. It will likely be 15 days previous waning gibbous, solely a day after the total moon.
Some meteors might also be seen between November 13 and December 6 radiating from the constellation of Orion on the velocity of 44 km/s on common. The father or mother physique for this meteor bathe is as of but unknown.
November 28: Hyades cluster at its highest level within the sky
The Hyades (often known as Caldwell 41, Collinder 50, or Melotte 25) is the closest open cluster at solely 153 light-years away. The cluster of stars will attain its highest level within the sky at round midnight native time.
With an obvious magnitude of 1.0, the Hyades will be seen with the bare eye, however for higher outcomes I might suggest a minimum of a pair of normal binoculars. Sadly the Moon shall be interfering with remark as a result of will probably be waning gibbous at 15 days previous, so solely a day after a full moon.
The Hyades cluster is part of the Taurus constellation, of which it types the top. It has been recognized since antiquity, a number of 1000’s of years BC. Together with the Pleiades, the Hyades type the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic. The solar, moon, and planets all transfer alongside the ecliptic, and consequently, all seven of those our bodies routinely move by means of the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic. (For the constellation map, scroll as much as November 12 as it’s already proven for the Northern Taurid meteor bathe. You may as well see a photograph of the Hyades on the high of the article because the featured picture.)
Moon Phases in November 2023
As you understand, the Moon has a huge impact on the visibility of celestial our bodies within the evening sky. So listed here are the Moon’s phases for this month:
Positions of the Planets in November 2023
Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar will be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Libra. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver shortly within the evening sky and its place will change within the following weeks.
Venus: The sister planet will be seen travelling throughout the constellation of Leo. Identical to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
Mars: The crimson planet will be seen within the constellation of Libra.
Jupiter: The gasoline large is seen within the constellation of Aries. Jupiter can simply be noticed with the bare eye, even in extremely illuminated cities.
Saturn: The ringed large will be seen with the bare eye within the constellation of Aquarius.
Uranus: The ice large will be seen within the constellation of Aries with the usage of a telescope.
Neptune: The blue large requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces to be able to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Massive Asteroids in November 2023
Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet will be seen within the constellation of Libra with the assistance of a telescope.
Vesta: This massive asteroid will be seen within the constellation of Gemini with a telescope.
Pallas: The asteroid will be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Virgo.
Pluto: This distant dwarf planet will be discovered within the constellation of Sagittarius with the assistance of a big telescope.
Main astronomical occasions subsequent month – December 2023
- December 2 – Pheonicid meteor bathe peak.
- December 6 – December φ-Cassiopeid meteor bathe peak.
- December 7 – Puppid-Velid meteor bathe peak.
- December 8 – Monocerotid meteor bathe peak.
- December 11 – σ-Hydrid meteor bathe peak.
- December 14 – Geminid meteor bathe peak.
- December 15 – Comae Berenicid meteor bathe peak.
- December 20 – December Leonis Minorid meteor bathe peak.
- December 21 – Asteroid 4 Vesta at opposition.
- December 21 – December solstice.
- December 22 – Ursid meteor bathe peak.
- December 22 – Asteroid 9 Metis at opposition.
- December 27 – Asteroid 5 Astraea at opposition.
Conclusion
This month, our evening sky turns into a celestial stage with a stunning lineup. Meteor showers like Orionids and Leonids will mild up the skies. Jupiter and Uranus will shine at opposition. Lunar encounters with Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and the Pleiades will provide charming shows. Control the Hyades cluster.
Take pleasure in these celestial wonders and don’t neglect to subscribe to our publication under to obtain our stargazing calendar in your mailbox.
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