Our celestial neighbourhood in November
PICK OF THE MONTH
Uranus
Best time to see: 9 November, 00:00 UT
Altitude: 54º
Location: Aries
Direction: South
Features: Greenish hue, atmospheric banding, moons
Recommended equipment: 150mm or larger
Uranus reaches opposition on 9 November, but unlike our nearer Solar System neighbours Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, its position in the opposite part of the sky to the Sun produces only a very subtle improvement in the general appearance of the planet, something that it shares with its outer neighbour, Neptune.
We normally comment on the fact that Uranus, being able to reach a peak altitude of 53° when due south, is the best-placed planet to observe from the UK. However, we’re happy to report that this is currently untrue, as Mars is able to appear higher this month.
Uranus is shining at mag. +5.6 this month and should theoretically be visible from a dark site using nothing more than your eyes. In practice this can be quite a hard task to achieve but if you want to give it a go, first identify Botein (Delta (δ) Arietis) and Epsilon (ε) Arietis, which shine at magnitudes +4.3 and +4.6 respectively. Imagine them as the side of an equilateral triangle, with the third vertice to the southwest. This is marked by two dim stars, mag. +5.6 Rho (ρ) and mag. +5.8 45Z Arietis. At the start of November these close stars (21 arcminutes between them) point south to Uranus.
Through a telescope, the planet has a 3.8-arcsecond disc with a distinctive green its brighter this year hue to it, but there’s little in the way of detail that can be seen visually. Imaging setups may be able to detect banding on the planet using filters that let longer (red) wavelengths pass. Here you’ll need to be patient and collect a considerable number of frames for stacking. In addition, extended exposures may be used to reveal the planet’s brighter moons, Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania and Oberon. Miranda is close to the planet and a tough target.
Mars
Best time to see: 30 November, 00:40 UT
Altitude: 62°
Location: Taurus
Direction: South
Mars rises around 18:45 UT at the start of November and is able to reach its highest position in the sky, due south, in darkness all month long. Approaching opposition on 8 December, it is now a very attractive planet to view through a telescope. On 1 November Mars presents a disc with an apparent diameter of 15 arcseconds and shines at mag. –1.2. By the end of the month these values will have increased significantly, Mars presenting an apparent disc size of 17 arcseconds and appearing very bright at mag. –1.8. A bright 89%-lit waxing gibbous Moon lies near the planet on the evening of 11 November.
Jupiter
Best time to see: 1 November, 21:30 UT
Altitude: 35°
Location: Pisces
Direction: South
Bright evening planet Jupiter remains well-positioned all month. On the night of 4/5 November, it is joined by an 86%-lit waxing Moon lying 2.7° to the south. On 1 November Jupiter shines at mag. –2.7, which only drops to –2.5 by the end of the month. It reaches its highest position of 35° as seen from the centre of the UK, under dark sky conditions all month. Jupiter currently lies southeast of the Circlet asterism in Pisces.
Saturn
Best time to see: 1 November, 18:50 UT
Altitude: 21°
Location: Capricornus
Direction: South
Shining at mag. +0.8 at the start of November, Saturn reaches its peak altitude, due south, under dark sky conditions for much of the month, although the evening twilight encroaches towards the end of November. A 55%-lit waxing Moon lies near Saturn on 1 November and as a 39%-lit waxing crescent on the evening of 29 November.
Neptune
Best time to see: 1 November, 21:00 UT
Altitude: 33°
Location: Aquarius
Direction: South
Neptune is well-placed for UK observation, able to reach its peak altitude, due south, under dark sky conditions all month long. Mag. +7.9 Neptune and –2.5 Jupiter appear 6.1° apart mid-month.
Not well-placed for observation this month:
Mercury
At the start of November, Mercury shines at around mag. –1.0 but rises less than 30 minutes before the Sun. It reaches superior conjunction on 8 November, lining up with the Sun on the far side of its orbit. Its emergence into the evening sky isn’t particularly favourable, the planet being low after sunset and setting not long after the Sun.
Venus
Venus passed superior conjunction on 22 October and remains very close to the Sun at the start of November. It sets just 30 minutes after the Sun on 30 November and will probably remain unseen right through the month.
More ONLINE
Print out observing forms for recording planetary events
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/bonus-content/GD67VIT
The planets in November
The phase and relative sizes of the planets this month. Each planet is shown with south at the top, to show its orientation through a telescope
Jupiter’s moons: November
Using a small scope you can spot Jupiter’s biggest moons. Their positions change dramatically over the month, as shown on the diagram. The line by each date represents 01:00 BST (00:00 UT).
