Monday, November 30
The Full Moon occurs at 4:30 A.M. EST this morning. November’s Full Moon is traditionally called a Beaver Moon, and this one is particularly special. Today, much of the world will be treated to a penumbral lunar eclipse, when the Moon passes through the penumbra, or outer portion of Earth’s shadow.
At greatest eclipse, about 82 percent of the Moon will be in shadow, although casual observers may have a somewhat difficult time spotting the subtle difference between the eclipsed and non-eclipsed Moon. Because the penumbra is only the outer region of Earth’s shadow, the Moon’s brightness is only slightly dimmed during such an eclipse.
The eclipse begins at 2:32 A.M. EST and ends at 6:53 A.M. EST, with maximum eclipse occurring at 4:42 A.M. EST. For observers in the Southern Hemisphere, this eclipse foreshadows a much bigger event — a
total solar eclipse on December 14, visible from Chile and Argentina.
Sunrise: 7:02 A.M.
Sunset: 4:35 P.M.
Moonrise: 4:56 P.M.
Moonset: 7:12 A.M.
Moon Phase: Full
Tuesday, December 1
Venus rises soon after 5 A.M. local time this morning, reaching an altitude of about 10° in the southeastern sky an hour later. Last week, magnitude –4 Venus was in Virgo, but by now it’s crossed into Libra, sharing the constellation with magnitude –0.8 Mercury (which rises around 6:15 A.M. local time). Venus is closest to magnitude 2.8 Alpha (α) Librae, also known by the somewhat lengthy name Zubenelgenubi.
This star, like Mizar and Alcor in the Big Dipper, is a naked-eye double, with a magnitude 5 companion just 4' to its northwest. Can you make out its tiny neighbor without optical aid? It may be a bit difficult, particularly in the brightening dawn.
Mercury, with the most eccentric orbit of the solar system’s planets, will reach both aphelion (the farthest point in its orbit from the Sun) and superior conjunction in the same week later this month. Catch the speedy planet now in the morning skies, as it will soon disappear to become an evening star early next year.
Sunrise: 7:03 A.M.
Sunset: 4:35 P.M.
Moonrise: 5:39 P.M.
Moonset: 8:11 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (98%)
Wednesday, December 2
Mars crosses from south to north of the ecliptic today. The point where its orbit intersects the ecliptic, or the plane of the solar system, is called its ascending node. Now it will present a progressively better target for Northern Hemisphere observers, rising higher in altitude above the horizon, which is where the most turbulent layer of the atmosphere lies. The higher a target appears in the sky, the less air you are observing it through and the steadier that air is likely to be — especially on cold winter nights with low humidity.
Look for Mars after dark in Pisces the Fish, glowing tonight at magnitude –1.1 and still 14" across, although it is retreating farther from Earth along its orbit. By the end of the month, the Red Planet will appear just 10" across. So, your best viewing is early in the month, when its surface features will be easiest to see with your scope. At 10 P.M. EST, the planet’s Tharsis Ridge volcanoes are visible near the center of the disk. Olympus Mons, the solar system’s largest volcano, should appear as a lighter spot as well. At that same time, the famous Valles Marineris is just rotating off the limb. Don’t worry, though — this giant canyon will take center stage on the disk at this time next week for those eager to see it.
Sunrise: 7:04 A.M.
Sunset: 4:35 P.M.
Moonrise: 6:27 P.M.
Moonset: 9:09 A.M.
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (95%)