A monthly look at astronomical events in the sky and on Earth

Compiled by Steve Sawyer

Welcome to November’s “What’s Up”!

I always like this time of year with the darker evenings. I’m more of a morning person than a night owl so the earlier dark skies are great. Hopefully we get some clear skies too.
This month, aside from the sparkle of fireworks, we can look forward to the Leonids and Northern Taurids meteor showers. The planets are also becoming easier to view again.

For those of us who like a bit of photography this is a very good and really well researched YouTube video that covers the famous Nasa Earthrise photograph (shown above) and early space photography.

The photography behind Earthrise

So what’s on this month?

As November progresses, several summer constellations, including most of Aquila, have slipped below the horizon, while others remain visible. Vega in Lyra and Deneb in Cygnus from the ‘Summer Triangle’ are still prominent in the western sky. The Milky Way arches overhead, with denser star clouds to the west and sparser regions in the east. Cassiopeia is near the zenith, while Cepheus and Auriga are visible in the north and northeast, respectively. Gemini and Orion rise in the east alongside Taurus with the Pleiades and Aldebaran. Pisces, Cetus, and the variable star Mira are near the meridian. In the southwest, Capricornus has set, while Aquarius and Altair remain visible. Pegasus, Andromeda, and Perseus are easy to spot, with Andromeda extending close to the zenith.

We also have a two rare transits of Titans shadow on Saturn more on these in the planets section.

Sky Diary

Date	Event
Nov 1	New Moon
Nov 3	Mercury (mag. -0.3) 2.1° North of the Moon
Nov 4	Antares 0.1° North of the Moon
Nov 4	Transit of Titans Shadow from 21:08 – 22:51
Nov 5	Venus (mag. -4.0) 3.1° North of the Moon
Nov 6-30	Leonid Meteor Shower
Nov 9	First Quarter Moon
Nov 11	Saturn (mag. 0.9) 0.1° South of the Moon
Nov 12-13	Northern Taurid Meteor Shower Maximum
Nov 12	Neptune (mag. 7.8) 0.6° South of the Moon
Nov 14	Moon at Perigee (closest approach), 360,109 km
Nov 15	Full Moon
Nov 16	Uranus (mag. 5.6) 4.4° South of the Moon
Nov 16	Mercury at Greatest Elongation (22.6° East, mag. -0.3)
Nov 17	Aldebaran 10.3° South of the Moon
Nov 17	Uranus at Opposition (mag. 5.6)
Nov 17	Jupiter (mag. -2.8) 5.5° South of the Moon
Nov 18	Leonid Meteor Shower Maximum
Nov 20	Pollux 1.9° North of the Moon
Nov 20	Mars (mag. -0.3) 2.4° South of the Moon
Nov 20	Titan Shadow transit 19:44-22:54
Nov 22	Regulus 2.7° South of the Moon
Nov 23	Last Quarter Moon
Nov 26	Moon at Apogee (farthest distance), 405,314 km
Nov 27	Spica 0.4° South of the Moon

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Sky Maps

Looking South on the 15th at 22:00

Looking North on the 15th at 22:00

The two charts above show all DSOs of magnitude 6.0 or brighter. They are both taken from
SkyViewCafe.com and correct for the 15th of the month. For a clickable list of Messier objects with images, use the Wikipedia link.

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Novembers Objects

The Sun

Sunspots are plentiful at the moment but no geomagnetic storms are forecast for the beginning of the month. Keep an eye out using the tools listed below to keep an eye for future events that may take place in the coming month.

Resources

For more info on the sun and solar weather look here : –

Space Weather Enthusiasts Dashboard | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Auroa Forecasts

A bit US centred but still useful

Aurora Dashboard (Experimental) | NOAA / NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

And our own Met-office have an excellent space weather forecast page here Space Weather – Met Office

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The Moon

Octobers moon calendar from Sky View Café (skyviewcafe.com)
A full yearly lunar calendar can be found here :-

https://www.mooninfo.org/moon-phases/2024.html

The Moons Positions in November

Date	Event
November 3	Moon 2.1° South of Mercury (mag. -0.3)
November 4	Moon 0.1° South of Antares
November 5	Moon 3.1° South of Venus (mag. -4.0)
November 12	Moon 0.6° North of Neptune (mag. 7.8)
November 16	Moon 4.4° North of Uranus (mag. 5.6)
November 17	Moon 10.3° North of Aldebaran, later 5.5° North of Jupiter (mag. -2.8)
November 20	Moon 1.9° South of Pollux, later 2.4° North of Mars
November 22	Moon 2.7° North of Regulus
November 27	Moon 0.4° North of Spica in Virgo

Moon Feature

Mons Rumker

Mons Rumker is a unique lunar volcanic formation located in the northwest region of the Moon’s near side within Oceanus Procellarum. It consists of a cluster of domes that rise about 1,100 meters above the surrounding mare, likely formed by ancient volcanic activity. Unlike typical craters, these domes are low and rounded, hinting at their volcanic origins and the presence of thick, viscous lava flows.

Mons Rumker was the landing site for the China’s Chang’e-5 mission in December 2020 which returned nearly 1.7KG of Lunar samples to Earth.

Chang’e 5 – Wikipedia

A very good paper on the area :- The Mons Rümker volcanic complex of the Moon: A candidate landing site for the Chang’E‐5 mission

And a NASA image APOD image APOD: 2020 December 5 – Mons Rumker in the Ocean of Storms

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Planets

Mercury

Not visible at the beginning of the month and poor later too.

Venus

Venus shines at magnitude -3.9 on November 1, setting 90 minutes after sunset. By month-end, it brightens to -4.0, setting nearly three hours after sunset. A low-altitude crescent Moon passes south of Venus on November 4 and 5, enhancing the view.

Mars

Mars reaches 60° above the horizon, making it prime candidate for for viewing this month. It brightens from magnitude +0.1 on November 1 to -0.5 by the 30th. On November 20, Mars rises near the waning gibbous Moon around 21:00 UT. By November 30, it appears 2° from the Beehive Cluster (M44)

Jupiter

Jupiter climbs higher each night, reaching 60° altitude by 02:43 UT early in November, shining at magnitude -2.5. Look for it near the nearly full Moon on November 17. By November 30, just before opposition, Jupiter appears exceptionally bright at magnitude -2.7, peaking in altitude around 00:30 UT.

Saturn

Saturn shines at magnitude +0.5, reaching 30° in altitude around 20:30 UT on November 1. A 68%-lit waxing gibbous Moon will be 2.7° southwest of Saturn on November 10 at 22:30 UT. Saturn gradually sets as the early hours of November 11 approach, making it a good early-evening target.
On both the 4th and 20th November the shadow of Titan moves across the face of Saturn

Uranus

Reaching opposition on the 17th Uranus shines at mag +5.6 and is well placed for viewing amongst the stars of Taurus all month,

Neptune

Visible under dark sky conditions all month and reaching peak altitude.

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Meteor Showers

We have two meteor showers this month the Northern Taurids, and the Leonids. The Taurids source being asteroid 2004 TG10 and the Leonids arising from comet 55p/Tempel-Tuttle.

The stream of debris left behind by these orbiting bodies burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, creating “shooting stars” typically at altitudes of 70-100 km. Meteor showers peak annually when Earth crosses particularly dense parts of these streams. Meteors appear to radiate from a common point, or radiant, due to the similar direction and speed of the particles.

Northern Taurids

The Northern Taurid meteor shower will be active from October 20 to December 10, peaking around November 12. During this period, meteors can be seen whenever the radiant point in Taurus is above the horizon. In York, the radiant is visible all night, so the shower will be active throughout the dark hours. The best viewing time is around midnight (00:00 GMT), when the radiant is at its highest point in the sky.

 

Leonids

Active from November 6 to 30, the Leonid meteor shower peaks on the night of November 17th, with meteors radiating from the constellation Leo. The radiant rises around 22:20 and reaches its highest point at 5:40 am. While typically producing about 15-17 meteors per hour, the Leonids are known for their bright meteors and occasional fireballs. In rare years, they create meteor storms with thousands per hour.

From York, the Leonid meteor shower becomes visible around 22:05 each night, staying active until dawn at 06:53. The radiant point reaches its peak altitude near 06:00 GMT, making pre-dawn the best viewing time.

Diagrams from https://in-the-sky.org/ (c) Dominic Ford

Comets

Evening Comets	Mag	Alt	Midnight Comets	Mag	Alt
C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)	6	36	333P/LINEAR	9	5
13P/Olbers	11	3	C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)	11	58
C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)	11	32	C/2024 M1 (ATLAS)	13	60
C/2023 C2 (ATLAS)	13	15	29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1	13	10
C/2024 B1 (Lemmon)	13	13	C/2022 E2 (ATLAS)	11	64
C/2024 M1 (ATLAS)	13	50	29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1	13	64

Link here for further details of each comet and how to locate it.
Visual Comets in the Future (Northern Hemisphere) (aerith.net)

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Deep Sky (DSO’s)

NGC’s and double stars this month.

NGC 7009 Saturn Nebula

NGC 7009, also known as the Saturn Nebula, is a bright planetary nebula located in the constellation Aquarius. It earned its nickname because its appearance in small telescopes resembles the planet Saturn, complete with “handles” that look like rings. These “handles” are actually extensions or lobes of gas ejected from the dying central star, giving it a slightly elongated shape.

Key Details:

Distance: Approximately 5,200 light-years from Earth
Magnitude: About 8.0, making it visible in moderate-sized telescopes
Apparent Size: Roughly 25″ x 17″ (arcseconds)
Coordinates: Right Ascension 21h 04m 10.9s | Declination -11° 21′ 48″
Observing the Saturn Nebula
In telescopes with an aperture of 4 inches or larger, NGC 7009 appears as a small, bluish-green disk due to ionized oxygen and hydrogen gas. With larger telescopes, the “handles” or lobes become visible, giving it the Saturn-like appearance. Its central star, which is the remnant of a Sun-like star that has shed its outer layers, can also be glimpsed in larger telescopes.

Scientific Significance

The Saturn Nebula is a well-studied example of a planetary nebula, which is the final stage for stars similar in size to our Sun. The nebula’s complex structure, including its outer halo, jets, and the central ring, provides insights into the processes of stellar death and the ejection of material into space, contributing to the interstellar medium.

NGC 7293: The Helix Nebula

NGC 7293, also known as the Helix Nebula, is a large planetary nebula located in the constellation Aquarius. Its unique, eye-like appearance has earned it the nickname “The Eye of God” due to its intricate structure and glowing halo.

Key Details:

• Distance: Approximately 650 light-years from Earth
• Magnitude: About 7.6, making it visible in binoculars and small telescopes
• Apparent Size: Roughly 16′ x 28′ (arcminutes)
• Coordinates: Right Ascension 22h 29m 38.5s | Declination -20° 50′ 14″

Observing the Helix Nebula

The Helix Nebula appears as a faint, circular glow with a central star in moderate-sized telescopes. It’s best observed under dark skies, where the nebula’s subtle details, like its outer halo, become more visible. Its proximity makes it one of the closest planetary nebulae to Earth, offering a large apparent size in the sky.

Scientific Significance

The Helix Nebula is an iconic example of a planetary nebula formed from a dying star similar to our Sun. The nebula’s gases, expelled during the star’s final stages, create a complex structure, showcasing rings and knots of gas. This process enriches the surrounding interstellar medium, contributing to future star formation.

GC 253: The Sculptor Galaxy

NGC 253, commonly known as the Sculptor Galaxy or the Silver Coin Galaxy, is a bright spiral galaxy located in the constellation Sculptor. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the sky, visible in binoculars and small telescopes, and is known for its high star formation rate and detailed structure.

Key Details:

• Distance: Approximately 11 million light-years from Earth
• Magnitude: Around 7.1, making it one of the brightest galaxies visible from Earth
• Apparent Size: Roughly 27.5′ x 6.8′ (arcminutes)
• Coordinates: Right Ascension 00h 47m 33.1s | Declination -25° 17′ 17″

Observing the Sculptor Galaxy

NGC 253 is a stunning sight in telescopes with an aperture of 4 inches or larger. It appears as an elongated, cigar-shaped glow with a bright core and hints of dark dust lanes and mottled regions under dark skies. The galaxy’s structure and clumpy appearance are visible in larger telescopes, making it a rewarding target.

Scientific Significance

NGC 253 is known for its high rate of star formation, categorizing it as a starburst galaxy. The galaxy’s central region contains many young, hot stars and gas clouds, creating intense regions of infrared and X-ray emission.

Almach (Gamma Andromedae)

Almach, also known as Gamma Andromedae, is a beautiful multiple star system located in the constellation Andromeda.

Key Details:

• Distance: Approximately 350 light-years from Earth
• Magnitude: Combined magnitude of around 2.1, making it easily visible to the naked eye
• Spectral Types: Main components are B8 and K3
• Coordinates: Right Ascension 02h 03m 53.9s | Declination +42° 19′ 47″

Observing Almach

Through a telescope, Almach reveals itself as a colorful double star. The primary component shines as a bright, golden-yellow star, while its companion appears as a contrasting blue. With good seeing conditions, even small telescopes can easily split the two stars, revealing the stunning color difference.

Scientific Significance

Almach is actually a quadruple star system, with the primary star being a single yellow giant, and the secondary, the blue companion, consisting of three stars that are unresolved in amateur telescopes.

Struve 163 (Σ 163)

Struve 163, also catalogued as Σ 163, is a well-known binary star system located in the constellation Andromeda. This star is part of the Struve Catalogue of Double Stars, compiled by the German-Russian astronomer Friedrich Georg Wilhelm Struve.

Key Details:

• Distance: Approximately 300 light-years from Earth
• Magnitudes: Primary star around 7.1, secondary star around 8.2
• Separation: About 34 arcseconds, making it easily split in small telescopes
• Coordinates: Right Ascension 01h 46m 06s | Declination +47° 39′ 27″

Observing Struve 163

Struve 163 is a relatively easy double star to resolve in small telescopes. With a separation of about 34 arcseconds, the two components are well-spaced, appearing as distinct points of light. Observers often note a pleasing colour contrast between the stars, with one appearing white and the other with a slight yellowish tint. The pair’s wide separation and brightness make it a rewarding target for beginners and experienced stargazers alike.

Scientific Significance

Struve 163 is a classic example of a visual binary system, where the stars are physically bound and orbit a common centre of mass.

Burnham 1 (Bu 1)

Burnham 1 (Bu 1) is a binary star system located in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is one of the first double stars catalogued by the American astronomer Sherburne Wesley Burnham, a well-known double-star observer. Burnham 1 is less commonly observed than some other binary stars, but it remains an interesting object for dedicated double-star enthusiasts.

Key Details:

• Distance: Approximately 370 light-years from Earth
• Magnitudes: Primary star around 6.9, secondary star around 9.8
• Separation: About 4.2 arcseconds, making it a more challenging double for small telescopes
• Coordinates: Right Ascension 00h 29m 13s | Declination +58° 25′ 08″

Observing Burnham 1

Burnham 1 is best observed through a medium to large telescope due to the close separation and the difference in brightness between the primary and secondary stars. Under steady seeing conditions, the pair can be split, revealing the fainter companion star next to the brighter primary. Observers might notice a slight colour contrast, though the secondary is often dim enough that colours may be muted.

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ISS and other orbiting bits

ISS sightings for the beginning of the month.

Date	Visible Duration	Max Height	Appears	Disappears
Tue Oct 29, 3:34 AM	< 1 min	12°	12° above E	10° above E
Tue Oct 29, 5:07 AM	4 min	51°	46° above SW	10° above ESE
Wed Oct 30, 4:20 AM	2 min	28°	28° above ESE	10° above ESE
Wed Oct 30, 5:53 AM	5 min	29°	17° above WSW	10° above SE
Thu Oct 31, 5:05 AM	3 min	37°	37° above SSW	10° above SE
Fri Nov 1, 4:18 AM	1 min	20°	20° above SE	10° above ESE
Fri Nov 1, 5:51 AM	4 min	17°	14° above WSW	10° above S
Sat Nov 2, 5:04 AM	2 min	22°	22° above S	10° above SSE
Sun Nov 3, 4:17 AM	< 1 min	11°	11° above SE	10° above SE
Mon Nov 4, 5:03 AM	< 1 min	10°	10° above S	10° above S

Use the this NASA website for exact timings for York overpasses. York, England, United Kingdom | Sighting Opportunity | Spot The Station | NASA

Useful Resources

StarLust – A Website for People with a Passion for Astronomy, Stargazing, and Space Exploration.

https://www.spacedaily.com/

http://www.n3kl.org/sun/noaa.html

http://skymaps.com/downloads.html

Astronomy Calendar of Celestial Events 2024 – Sea and Sky (seasky.org)

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/topics/what-are-names-full-moons-throughout-yearhttp://www.deepskywatch.com/deepsky-guide.html

https://www.constellation-guide.com/

IMO | International Meteor Organization

and of course the Sky at Night magazine!