November 2023 will likely be a wonderful month to go stargazing. It could be getting colder outdoors above the equator, however there’s a lot to see within the night time sky as daylight financial savings come to an finish in North America.
From a full moon and a full planet to precisely when to look at Venus in conjunction and a significant meteor bathe, listed here are the sky-watching highlights for November 2023:
Jupiter reaches opposition early this month.
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1. Jupiter At Its Brightest And Greatest
When: After darkish on Thursday and Friday, November 2-3
The place: Jap sky
Tonight sees Jupiter attain its annual opposition round midnight EST, which places it as its greatest, brightest and greatest in 2023. It should occur as a result of Earth will likely be exactly between Jupiter and the solar, with the enormous planet consequently showing totally lit as seen from Earth. From our viewpoint, will probably be 100% “full” and rise within the east at sundown and set within the west at dawn. It’s the perfect time of yr to see Jupiter both with the bare eye, binoculars or a small telescope, however you don’t must be particular—any time this month is a good time to take a look at Jupiter and its moons.
2. The Return Of Orion
When: Two hours after darkish
The place: Jap sky
Orion—and particularly the three stars of Orion’s Belt—is an icon of the winter sky above the equator. It remerges into the early night night time sky this month, with the “Three Kings”—Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka—rising in a vertical line due east. Both aspect will likely be shiny, ruddy star Betelgeuse and blue supergiant Rigel.
Crescent Moon with Venus planet beside at night time
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3. Moon And Venus In Conjunction
When: Earlier than dawn on Thursday, November 9
The place: Jap sky
Rise earlier than daybreak and also you’ll see a 15% waning crescent moon seem near Venus, which is presently shining brightly within the pre-dawn sky in its apparition because the “Morning Star.”
4. A Stunning Crescent Moon
When: Wednesday-Friday, November 15-17
The place: Western sky
Look southwest after sundown over these three nights and also you’ll see the stunning sight of a crescent moon. On Wednesday will probably be 7%-lit, on Thursday 14% and on Friday 23%, which ought to make it doable to additionally see “Earthshine” on the darkish limb of the moon—daylight mirrored from Earth again on to the lunar floor. Having emerged from the glare of the solar the moon will now seem to develop every day because it orbits Earth and will get farther from the solar.
5. Peak Of The Leonids
When: Friday/Saturday, November 17/18
The place: All-sky
Normally producing about 15 “taking pictures stars” per hour, the Leonid meteor bathe isn’t among the finest of the yr, however it’s reliable. It’s additionally noteworthy for its “taking pictures stars” having lengthy and shiny trains. Pencil-in tonight as a very good night time to go stargazing—you may get very fortunate and see a stunning Leonid.
6. The Moon Glides Shut To Jupiter
When: After darkish on Friday and Saturday, November 24-25
The place: Jap sky
Look due east after darkish and you may see a 93% waxing gibbous moon shining simply above Jupiter, which is able to nonetheless be wanting fabulous a couple of weeks after its opposition. Come again the next night and also you’ll see the 2 have swapped sides, with the moon shining much more brightly than final night time, however now positioned to the decrease left of Jupiter.
7. A Full ‘Beaver Moon’
When: Nightfall on Monday, November 27
The place: Jap sky
Tonight sees the rise of the “Beaver Moon,” additionally known as the “Frosty Moon” and the “Lengthy Nights Moon,” which is able to seem on the japanese horizon this night in a blaze of coloration. There’s nothing notably particular about this one—it’s not a “supermoon,” for instance—however the full moon rising every month is considered one of nature’s most stunning sights. Don’t miss it!
Wishing you clear skies and large eyes.
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