November 2009
Skywatchers’ Guide for November 2009
HIGHLIGHTS: The peak of the Leonid Meteor Shower is predicted to have a much better than average display after midnight and in the pre-dawn hours of November 17-18: This several night long shower is unhindered by moonlight and up to a few hundred meteors per hour are forecast by some astronomers to be visible over Asia. The planet Jupiter continues to dominate the evening sky and is the brightest star like object visible in the evening hours. Even more brilliant is Venus, but it’s very low in the morning sky and moving into the glare of the Sun. Mars is brightening in the morning sky and becomes a suitable (but small) target for amateur telescopes this month.
THE LEONID METEOR SHOWER
 This sky chart is useful around the United States but is most accurate for observers in the southern United States looking north-northeast around 2 a.m. from Nov. 16-19. |
The Leonid Meteor Shower, which peaks in the pre-dawn hours of November 17 and 18, will not be affected by the light of the Moon this year, making for a good year to view the shower. Asia is predicted to pass through a strand of debris from the comet causing the shower at 2 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (21:00 UT). Astronomers are predicting that anywhere from 150 to 500 meteors may be visible for Asia, and the shower is well worth keeping an eye on here in the USA, in case predictions are wrong and the Leonids prove to be as unpredictable as they have in the recent past. The Leonids, which have put on spectacular shows during 1998-2002, are known for producing greatly enhanced activity every 33 years as Earth plows through dense portions of the debris trail left by Comet Temple-Tuttle. Unfortunately, Earth has recently finished experiencing that 33 year cycle, so no meteor storm is forecast this year.
The radiant (that is the area of sky where the Leonids appear to originate from) rises at local midnight, so meteor watchers should start gazing at that time, and look until dawn. Sky gazers should be alert and outside during all the probable maximum dates from November 16-19 as unexpected meteor peaks may occur. The Leonids often produce brilliant fast meteors, so even a few bright Leonids are well worth seeing. Dark viewing locations are highly recommended: glare from artificial light sources will certainly reduce the amount of meteors seen. Dark sky locations in Tucson favored for viewing this shower will be east of Tucson, such as Saguaro National Park East, at the east end of Speedway and Broadway Boulevards. Also, The University of Arizona’s Mount Lemmon Sky Center is hosting a Leonid Meteor Program on the summit of nearby Mount Lemmon (9,157 feet): Click here for more information and to reserve your spot (dress warmly!).
For complete details from NASA on this year’s meteor shower download the PDF file at: http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/372657main_2009LeoVisibility_Public2.pdf.
PLANETS
 The evening sky on November 22-24 at around 8:30 p.m. (MST) facing southwest. This sky chart is most useful for the United States, southern Canada and northern Mexico.  The eastern late night sky on November 9 at around 12:30 a.m. (MST). This sky chart is most useful for the United States, southern Canada and northern Mexico.  The morning sky with Venus, Saturn and the Moon on November 12-13 at around one hour before sunrise, facing southeast. This sky chart is most useful for the continental United States and northern Mexico. |
Bright Jupiter continues to dominate the southern sky on November evenings for a few hours after sunset, especially during the first half of the month, when it’s up longer in our sky. Gas giant Jupiter appears one hour after sunset as a very bright, almost brilliant white star-like object, high above the southern horizon in early November evenings, but moving earlier toward the southwestern horizon by the last half of November. On November 1 Jupiter is still bright (brighter than magnitude -2.3) and large in a telescope (around 40 arc seconds wide). By November 30 it’s 38 arc seconds wide and has faded very slightly. November continues to be a very good time to view the giant planet in the evening hours. Look for bright, whitish Jupiter in Capricornus, the Sea Goat, far east (or roughly far ‘left’) of the Teapot of Sagittarius: It’s the brightest star like object well up in the evening sky in November. Jupiter is highest and due south in bright evening twilight in early and middle November (at around 40 degrees in altitude for much of the Desert Southwest). Look for the waxing crescent Moon to slide above (and north) of Jupiter in the southern sky on Monday evening, November 23.
When looking at Jupiter in a telescope to view its cloud belts and festoons, the sharpest views should be just after sunset in evening twilight, when at or near its highest in the twilight sky this month. As with any planet viewing is dependent on atmospheric stability and conditions, and of course, the quality and size of the telescope used. However to view its moons, a good pair of binoculars is all that’s needed. Jupiter sets in the west-southwest around 12:15 a.m. on November 1, around 11:30 p.m. on November 15 and around 10:40 a.m. in late November.
The planet Mars, now brightening in our morning sky, starts November as a false bright star ‘within’ the Beehive Cluster (use binoculars) in Cancer, the Crab on November 1. Mars is moving closer to Earth and brightens from +0.5 magnitude to 0.0 magnitude and widens from 8 to 10 arc seconds wide (suitable for imaging in amateur telescopes, and viewing in large telescopes). Look for the last quarter Moon to rise near Mars in our sky at around 11:30 p.m. on Monday, November 9.
Saturn rises earlier above the eastern horizon each morning this November. In early November look for Saturn in the morning sky 1-2 hours before sunrise above the eastern horizon as a slightly brighter than 1st magnitude star-like object. By early November Saturn is over 23 degrees above the eastern horizon, one hour before sunrise, but by late November climbs overhead to 48 degrees in altitude at that time. Saturn is found below the constellation Leo the Lion. Look for the 25 day old crescent Moon to group with Saturn on Thursday, November 12.
The brilliant planet Venus is losing altitude this month and nearing the eastern dawn horizon. As it does so it groups with the bright star Spica (3.5 degrees apart), in the constellation of Virgo the Virgin on November 3, 90 minutes to one hour before sunrise. At the start of November Venus lies about 4 degrees above the eastern horizon, 1 hour before sunrise, but sinks into the horizon at that time by the end of November (when it can only be seen 30 minutes before sunrise). Look for the 27 day old waning crescent Moon to lie near Venus and Spica on Saturday morning, November 14 (the following morning’s 28 day old Moon will lie closer to Venus, but be much more difficult to view).
The elusive planet Mercury might be glimpsed on the last two days of November in binoculars, very close to the southwestern horizon, 30 minutes after sunset. Mercury will be -0.5 magnitude in brightness but dimmed by its proximity to the horizon. Very clear skies are needed for this observation.
Visitors to Flandrau’s 16-inch telescope should note that Jupiter is visible in the telescope during public hours (closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Days). Other celestial objects will be shown in the telescope, weather permitting. Although Flandrau’s main exhibit hall and planetarium are now closed to the general public due to state budget cuts, school groups can arrange for planetarium and Mineral Museum field trips. The Mineral Museum is normally open Friday and Saturdays to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (and by appointment). The Flandrau Observatory remains open for viewing during public hours from 7-10 p.m., weather permitting, Wednesday through Saturday nights (excluding select holidays). Finally, remember that in spotting planets there is a general rule: ’stars twinkle, planets don’t’. This is because stars are point sources of light; therefore starlight is easily disturbed and shifted by air currents in the Earth’s atmosphere. However when looking at Mercury or Mars this month, note that they appear to twinkle somewhat; however, this twinkling is of a slower nature than that of the bright stars.
NOVEMBER STARS
 The November evening night sky looking west around 10 p.m. in early November, from 9 p.m. in mid-November and around 8 p.m. in late November.  The November evening night sky looking high above the southern horizon around 9 p.m. in early November, from 8 p.m. in mid-November and around 7 p.m. in late November. |
In the western sky at the end of evening twilight anywhere in the U.S., stargazers can find the bright stars of the widely spaced triangle Summer Triangle: Vega, Deneb, and Altair. Because it’s November the Summer Triangle is losing altitude, and sets in the western sky around midnight (Altair sets at 11 p.m. mid-month). Vega, Altair, and Deneb are each the brightest stars of three constellations that make up the Summer Triangle. Vega is the brightest star in the small constellation of Lyra, the Lyre (a small ancient harp). Vega, one of the closer stars to Earth (at only 25 light years away), was the Pole Star (our North Star) some 12,000 years ago, and will again be the North Star in 14,000 A.D. when Earth’s cyclical wobbling motion brings in near the pole once more. Deneb is the tail of Cygnus the Swan, but also marks the bottom of the cross-shaped pattern whose other name is the Northern Cross. Deneb is a huge supergiant star over 1,600 light years from Earth. Aquila, the Eagle is the home of the bright star Altair, the first star of the three in the triangle to set late at night and the closest of the three to Earth at only 17 light years distant. Aquila looks more like a diamond or kite than an Eagle. Aquila and Cygnus (or the Northern Cross) mark some of the brightest areas of the northern Milky Way, which is prominent in dark skies on moonless November nights.
Remaining at center stage in November is the Great Square of Pegasus. Find the Great Square quite a ways up from Fomalhaut, the bright star marking the Southern Fish (Pisces Austrinus), which lies somewhat low in the south. The eastern corner star of the “Great Square” of Pegasus, Alpheratz, is actually also the head of Andromeda, the Chained Lady or Princess. In Andromeda, is the “Great Andromeda Galaxy”, M31, which can be viewed as a fuzzy spot in binoculars. Rising in the eastern sky (and far from M31) is the Seven Sisters (or Pleiades) star cluster, a wonderful sight in binoculars.
MOON PHASES
The November Full (Beaver/Frosty) Moon will rise near the Seven Sisters or Pleiades cluster on the evening of Monday, November 2 and set on the morning of Tuesday, November 3 (on Thursday it will occult or cover parts of the Pleiades cluster for parts of the southeastern-most United States (not Arizona)– use binoculars or a wide-field telescope to view). The November last quarter Moon occurs on Monday morning November 9. The November new moon occurs on Monday, November 16. The November 2009 first quarter Moon will occur on Tuesday evening, November 24. The Full Moon Before Yule occurs at its earliest possible date on December 1 this year.
Note: Additional information can be accessed by phone at Flandrau Science Center’s Astronomy Newsline at (520) 621-4310 or as a menu option at 621-S-T-A-R.
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