CAS Sky Notes for November 2024

Now that the clocks have gone back, we have long dark evenings for observing – provided the clouds clear!

Comet Tshuchinshan-ATLAS

This wasn’t quite as spectacular as some predicted, but many did get some decent photos.  It is now rather faint as it recedes from Earth.

Planets

Mercury

Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation on the 16th and is an evening object. However, its southerly declination of -25o will make it hard to see in the northern hemisphere.

Venus

Venus remains an evening object with a magnitude of – 4.1 and it’s elongation increases to 40o, with a phase of 73%, and a l diameter of 16”.  As with Mercury, it’s southerly declination also makes it hard to view as it is low in the sky after sunset, but can be seen if you have a good western horizon.

Mars

This is in Gemini and near Castor and Pollux.  It rises about 9pm and so is well placed before midnight now.  It is much brighter, at magnitude -0.4 and its diameter increases to 11 arcsec during the month.  Its approximate position is RA 8h 25m, Dec +21o, and its red colour will make it easy to identify.

Jupiter

This rises by 7pm now and is well placed for observing later in the evening.  It reaches opposition in December. It is unmistakable, with a magnitude of -2.8, making it a great telescope object, so do get observing!

Saturn

Saturn is well past opposition and still visible throughout the evening.  The rings have a tilt of about 5o.  This could make a nice photo.  It is still a bit low in the sky but is a little brighter due to more of the rings showing (mag.0.9).  Look for Titan, its brightest and biggest satellite which orbits every 16 days.  On 11th November Saturn is less than 0.1o South of the Moon.

Uranus

Uranus is observable throughout the night (RA: 3h 30m, Dec +18.5o).  It reaches opposition on 17th November. Its magnitude is +5.6 and diameter 3.8”.

Neptune

Neptune reached opposition on 21st September, with a diameter of 2.4” and mag. +7.8.

Its approximate position is RA 23h 50m, Dec -2.4o. On the 16th, Neptune is about 0.6o south of the Moon.  This should make it easier to find.

Anyone wishing to Uranus and Neptune, and who would like more details, should contact me at coord@cotswoldas.org.uk

Moon

1st   November:  New Moon                             9th November:  Moon is at First Quarter

17th November:  Full Moon                            23rd November:  Moon is at last quarter

 Sun

The Sun is remains active currently, so watch out for large Sunspot groups.  Remember to never look at the Sun directly without a proper solar filter.

Aurora

The Sun is around its maximum activity and may produce more aurorae.  I suggest you download an aurora alert App, such as Aurora Pro.  The darker nights mean that there is a much better chance of seeing them.

Meteors

The Leonids become visible this month, reaching their maximum around the 17th. Unfortunately, that is just after full Moon, making this display less favourable.  The ZHR is about 15, so not many each hour.

Dark Sky Objects

The Milky Way is well placed for photography and the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is high in the sky, making it a good target for photography.  A wider angle shot could take in the Milky Way as well. The Perseus Double Cluster is also high in the sky.  The Pleiades and Taurus are getting well-placed for observing and photography. 

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