Planets November 2007 The information below is valid for 15 November as viewed from Pretoria. All planets, except Mercury, are more or less static over the one-month period. However, the rise and set times will be one hour later (about 4 minutes per day) towards the beginning of the month and earlier towards the end of the month. Key information: Planet Magnitude Rise time Set time Angle to Sun Size of disc Constellation Mercury -0.7 04:21 17:14 17 6 Virgo Venus -4.3 02:54 15:06 45 20 Virgo Mars -0.9 22:16 08:42 1 14 Gemini Ceres 7.3 17:40 05:16 168 Star like Cetus Jupiter -1.9 07:06 20:44 29 32 Ophiuchus Saturn 0.7 01:25 12:49 76 18 Leo Uranus 5.8 13:16 01:49 111 4 Aquarius Neptune 7.9 11:21 00:29 85 2 Capricorn Pluto 14 07:40 20:51 34 Star like Sagittarius Mercury: Mercury is in the morning sky during November. It reaches greatest western elongation on 8 November (19 West of the Sun) but remains difficult to see because it is always in the twilight zone. Mercury will reach superior conjunction on 17 December. Map on page 3. Venus: Venus is a morning object during November and is the brightest object in the eastern sky (excluding the Sun and Moon). On 5 November Venus is 6 from the Moon, which creates an opportunity to view Venus in daylight. Map on page 3. Mars: Mars will be the planet of choice to look out for during the next few months. Jupiter sets shortly after sunset while Saturn only rises after midnight. Mars on the other hand will be visible almost all night. Mars reaches opposition on 24 December and will then be at its best in 8½ years. Map on page 4. Ceres: Minor planet Ceres is in opposition on 9 November (Mag 7.2) and will remain an early evening target for the next few months. Map on page 5. Jupiter: Jupiter reaches conjunction on 23 December and will be lost in the Sun s glow from late November. Jupiter is low on the western horizon shortly after sunset and will return as a morning object in the eastern sky late January. November is the last month in the current cycle to see the king of the planets during early evening. Map on page 6.
Saturn: Saturn rises after midnight and will reward the determined astronomer. The rings are now tilted only 7 with respect to the earth and are still decreasing. This causes Saturn to appear fainter than usual. Map on page 3 and page 4. Uranus: Uranus is close to the meridian during the early evening and should be easy to see with binoculars or small telescopes. Under dark sky conditions, you may even see Uranus without optical aid. Map on page 7. Neptune: Neptune are more challenging than Uranus (2 magnitudes dimmer) but should be well within the reach of even small binoculars and telescopes. Map on page 7. Pluto: Pluto is positioned close to Jupiter and will be challenging to see even in the larger telescopes (you ll need about an 11 telescopes under dark sky conditions). Pluto will dip below the horizon soon after sunset and are at conjunction on 21 December. Map on page 6.
0h o Peacock Star α Ind Microscopium Capricornus Ecliptic M73 M2 Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) Sappho M72 Celestial Equa Enif 22h Pegasus Cluster (M15) NGC 6744 Equuleus NGC 6752 Telescopium Nausikaa M75 Dabih 8h Ara β Ara NGC 6397 α Ara Corona Australis M70 NGC 6541 M69 Arkab Kaus Australis M55 Sagittarius Ascella Metis M54 τ Sgr Nunki Vesta ϕ Sgr Albaldah The Moon Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822) Little Gem (NGC 6818) θ Aql Aquila Altair Tarazed Delphinus Veil Nebula (East), Network Nebula (NGC 6992) Veil Nebula (West) (NGC 6960) Vulpecula NGC 6388 Sargas η Sco Lesath NGC 6231 ι1 Sco Girtab Shaula Sagittarius Cluster (M22) Kaus Meridianalis Kaus Borealis Alnasl M28 Ptolemy's Cluster (M7) M25 Butterfly Cluster (M6) Scutum Black Swan (M18) Lagoon Nebula (M8) Omega Nebula (M17) Trifid Nebula (M20) Eagle Nebula (M16) M23 M26 Althalimain Wild Duck Cluster (M11) δ Aql Sagitta M71 Dumbbell Nebula (M27) Brocchi's Cluster (Coathanger Cluster) Deneb el Okab Albireo 6h μ1 Sco Scorpius Wei θ Oph Flickering Globular (M62) Jupiter Pluto η Ser Serpens Cauda ν Oph M56 SW τ Sco M19 M9 Sabik M14 Sulafat Ring Nebula (M57) NW Lyra - π Sco Antares Cat's Eye (M4) Al Niyat M80 Dschubba - M107 2007/11/15 8:00:00 PM (Local) Chart centre (J2000): RA: 19h 1.366m Dec: -10 34.788' Looking: west (25 above horizon) Han Ophiuchus M10 West Cebalrai Rasalhague Vega 45
Hygiea Ecliptic Celestial Equator Egeria τ Cet 2h Fornax NGC 1291 Fornax A (NGC 1316) Victoria Cetus NGC 1365-45 Algenib Pisces NGC 1232 41 Eri Cael Alpheratz Ausonia Celestial Meridian δ And The Phantom (M74) Cetus A (M77) Kaffalijidhma δ Eri Eridanus Zaurak - M110 M32 Andromeda Galaxy (M31) Andromeda Mirach Sheratan Hamal Triangulum Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy (M33) Triangulum β Tri Rasalmothallah Aries Ceres Menkar Flora NGC 1535 μ Lep ε Lep M79 Nihal Lepus Arneb γ Lep Almach 51 And Little Dumbbell Nebula (M76) Owl Cluster (NGC 457) M34 Algol ρ Per Amphitrite Ampella Atik Taurus λ Tau Tempel's Nebula, Merope Nebula (NGC 1435) Pleiades, Seven Sisters (M45) Alcyone Irene θ2 Tau ε Tau Aldebaran π3 Ori Algiebba de Mairan s Nebula (M43) Orion Bellatrix Mintaka Cursa τ Ori M78 Rigel Alnilam Alnitak Nair al Saif Saiph Orion Nebula (M42) ζ Lep - a Ruchbah M103 60 Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 869) Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 884) γ Per Mirfak Perseus 2007/11/15 9:00:00 PM (Local) Chart centre (J2000): RA: 3h 1.724m Dec: 8 1.444' Looking: north east (40 above horizon) 45 ε Per Meissa Betelgeuse
- 6h 8h cliptic Celestial Equator Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) M48 Crab Nebula (M1) ζ Tau Alhena Alzirr Procyon Gomeisa Canis Minor Elnath M35 Propus, Tejat Prior Tejat Posterior λ Gem Alphard Hydra Hassaleh M38 M36 M37 Mebsuta Mars Gemini Altarf Wasat Eskimo Nebula, Clown Nebula (NGC 2392) ε Hya ζ Hya Ghost of Jupiter, Eye Nebula (NGC 3242) λ Hya us I Almaaz Hoedus II Capella θ Aur Auriga Menkalinan θ Gem Castor Castor κ Gem Pollux Eunomia Leto Beehive Cluster (M44) Cancer King Cobra (M67) Hebe ο Leo Sextans - NGC 2903 Regulus Ras Elased Australis η Leo Saturn Laetitia NGC 3521 Lynx α Lyn γ2 Leo Aldhafera Algieba Leo M95 M105 M96 Astraea North Al Kaprah Talitha Leo Minor Zosma Leo Triplet 2 (M66) Chertan, Chort Celestial Mer NGC 2403 Muscida θ UMa Tania Borealis NE Tania Australis Denebola Camelopardalis 2007/11/16 2:30:00 AM (Local) Chart centre (J2000): RA: 8h 41.583m Dec: 23 53.350' Looking: north east (27 above horizon) 60 45 Alula Borealis
10h Ecliptic Celestial Equator NGC 3766 Blue Planetary (NGC 3918) Aldhafera Algieba Leo M95 M105 M96 Saturn Laetitia NGC 3521 Crater δ Cru δ Cen α2 Cru Crux Acrux Gacrux Mimosa, Becrux Jewel Box (NGC 4755) γ Cen γ Cen Zosma Chertan, Chort Astraea Leo Triplet 2 (M66) Denebola Swelling Spiral (M61) Venus Iris Minkar Gienah Corvus Algorab Sombrero Galaxy (M104) Kraz M68 Centaurus NGC 4945 Hadar ε Cen Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) Centaurus A (NGC 5128) ι Cen ζ Cen ν Cen -60 Celestial Meridian NGC 4565 Coma Berenices M98 M99 M49 M100 M84 M85 M88 M90 M58 M91 M60 Blackeye Galaxy (M64) M53 Vindemiatrix Auva Heze Virgo Spica γ Hya Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83) π Hya Menkent α Lup η Cen β Lup κ Cen Lupus δ Lup γ Lup ε Lup ζ Lup Mercury Cor Caroli NE IC 4182 Canes Venatici Sunflower Galaxy (M63) M3 Muphrid East Zubenelgenubi Brachium η Lup SE -45 Arcturus Libra Zubeneschamali Sun π Sco 2007/11/16 5:00:00 AM (Local) Chart centre (J2000): RA: 13h 7.144m Dec: -11 47.186' Looking: east (24 above horizon) - Dschubba - Wei Scorp
Celestial Equa Hygiea Algenib ε Gru Herculina 2h α Tuc β Gru Fomalhaut 88 Aqr Celestial Meridi IC 5152 Grus Al Nair Skat Uranus γ Psc β Pav β Ind Indus γ Gru Piscis Austrinus Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) Prokne Aquarius Urania Markab 0h Peacock Star α Ind Microscopium M30 Harmonia Deneb Algiedi Nashira Neptune Pallas Athamantis Sadal Melik Thyra Baham Homam Pegasus Scheat Sadal Bari Matar 8h Telescopium Corona Australis NGC 6541 SW ι1 Sco Girtab α Tel G Sco tolemy's Cluster (M7) Arkab Kaus Australis M69 - M70 Kaus Meridianalis Kaus Borealis M55 Sagittarius Ascella M54 τ Sgr Metis Nunki Vesta ϕ Sgr ξ2 Sgr Albaldah Sagittarius Cluster (M22) 2007/11/15 10:00:00 PM (Local) Chart centre (J2000): RA: 21h 26.863m Dec: - 20.181' Looking: west (32 above horizon) - Nausikaa M75 The Moon Capricornus Dabih Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822) Little Gem (NGC 6818) Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009) M73 Sappho M72 Algedi (Al Giedi) θ Aql Aquila Sadal Suud Alshain M2 Altair Equuleus Delphinus Enif Rotanev Pegasus Cluster (M15) Veil Nebula (East), Network Nebula (NGC 6992) Veil Nebula (West) (NGC 6960) Vulpecula ζ Cyg Gienah