Jupiter post-opposition

Event Date: December 7th

Time: 5:00 PM/6:00 AM (same date)

Brief

   Jupiter is past opposition, and decently placed by nightfall, low in the east; it is above the horizon, and will be seen a little higher each day.  With a retrograde motion leading to it rising more than 4 minutes earlier each day, Jupiter now sets before the Sun rises.  It can be seen low in the west-southwest when at that point.  Since darkness at this time of year is over 14 hours at this time of year, that still gives us many hours to see the planet rise, transit and set.

   Below, we see Jupiter above the horizon shortly after the Sun sets.  The second image shows the planet setting while the sky remains dark before dawn.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   As shown in image one, the celestial gridlines tell us that Jupiter makes a large circle around the north celestial pole.  Although we don't really realize it, we can know by following the shape of the gridlines on either side it of it; they curve or "curl" upwards.  After Jupiter gets high enough, don't forget to try to look at the contrast through the belts and zones with a telescope.  By then, atmospheric pollution is not as big a problem, and a magnification of between 150-200x can show these bands: dark for the belts, light for the zones.  The lower the magnification, the better the contrast, for if you just want to see the difference in color.  However, if you want to see a more natural alternating of the two, try a more powerful telescope.  They are clouds of crystalizing ammonia, with the zones cooler and the belts warmer.

Sun nears the galactic equator, ending a calendar?

Event Date: December 6th

Time: 12:00(.07) PM

Brief

   Mayan calendar alert!

You got that right-- we are only about two weeks away from not only the December solstice; the end of the Mayan calendar.  There are countless links about them and the calendar's ending when it does.  I will let you find which makes the most sense to you, rather than list several here.  To put it in a little more perspective, let us take a look at where our Sun is on the ecliptic, relative the the longitude of the solstice.  Along with that, I will include the grid for our [Milky Way] galaxy: the equator with latitude lines on each side, and longitude lines running perpendicular.  The sky is darkened despite being daylight, to show the lines more easily.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

Notice that where the winter solstice (northern hemisphere) marker is: the ecliptic [equator], the eclitpic longitude 270º line, and the galactic equator all meet...almost anyway; the galactic equator is very close, yet not quite meeting with the others.  While I was not aware of that at first, I referred back to an old link to a Starry Night Times article I read a few years ago, by my colleague Geoff Gaherty; he explains the following a little better than me, so refer to his writing here for more on this topic.

   Getting back to my image above, the galactic equator is not labeled by lettering, yet can be detected with the lines on either side more "bent".  The Mayans--with their spectacular methods--calculated this year, as that for such to happen; they did so with unfathomable precision during those years, so long ago.  However, what many of the people today don't know, is that there is one key line in the image above that does not intersect with the others: the galactic meridian (labeled).  The Sun misses this meridian every year by about 6º.  As a result, even with a huge black hole there, any rumored "apocolypse" on Earth is nothing but just that-- a rumor.  The Sun and Earth will not line up with this galactic intersection, which may overall be a good thing!

   As we get closer to the solstice, I will magnify the point of intersection with the Sun getting closer.

Finally, look at the time for this entry: the Sun transits closest to noon local time for our location, of 37º 49. 09" N, 122º 10' 54" W; only 7 seconds away.  Some years, the Sun transits at exactly noon on the nose, although that is rare.  It depends where a person is longitude-wise in a time zone, while some locations without observing daylight savings, have near-noon transits of the Sun more often.

Mercury past greatest elongation, Venus nearby

Event Date: December 5th

Time: ~7:00 AM

Brief

A couple of days ago, while I was busy mentioning the dim, most-outer planets transiting, much brighter Jupiter, Venus and Mercury (now -0.4) formed a slight arc-shape, with Venus a little more than over 7º separated from both.  Now, Venus is "chasing" Mercury, yet will not catch it.  Elusive Mercury reached greatest western elongation yesterday just after 4 PM local time at 20.4º in separation from the Sun, and will start to move faster than Venus in prograde motion next week.  Here the two are now, with Mercury's orbit showing as well.  

Detailed

   As listed above, this is one of the more impressive apparent magnitude values for Mercury for this point in its cycle.  The planet is not far from perihelion, yet far enough that while we approach perihelion next month, we are slightly closer to it than average for a greatest western elongation.  It is also waxing while not shrinking quickly in angular size.  Along with the Sun still rising several seconds later and Mercury still north of the Sun, it all combines towards the best morning apparition of the planet since very early in the year, when we saw it at greatest [western] elongation in January.  Mercury rises 1 hour, 44 minutes before the Sun this morning, which is close to the largest rise gap while we see it here.  As Mercury reaches superior conjunction, it will continue to brighten, reaching very impressive magnitudes during the last week that we see it easily.  

   This second image shows a zoom-in of Mercury, with a phase of 64%. The field of view is 1/10º, giving a magnification of about 500x.  Realistically, with Mercury being low and out of atmospheric  pollution, try to keep the magntidue closer to 200x.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Taurus open star clusters, of different shapes

Event Date: December 4th

Time: 10:58(.24) PM

Brief

   I will back the clock up a little from last night's time of Jupiter's transit, showing the Pleiades star cluster doing the same tonight.  

   Seen below, is the Pleiades transiting high at 76º in image one,  I kept the Hyades cluster and Jupiter in the image also, as a reminder that they are soon to transit afterwards.  Image two shows the Pleiades magnified in a 2º field.  The brightest of the stars are noticeable, while many others can be seen easily.  Of course the more it is magnified, the more can be seen.  I will choose the 2º field, to fit the entire cluster in, making the magnification in the range of 25-30x, depending on the make and brand of the eyepiece used.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

Since we are at that time of year for when we can see the cluster high before too late, it is also a good time to try to count how many stars there are when it is high enough out of atmospheric pollution.  As it is often confused with the Little Dipper, which is much further north than the Pleiades, nearly at the north celestial pole, some people quickly say "seven" for that reason.  Astronomers are well aware of another obvious difference between the Pleiades and Little Dipper: one can fit in a telescope; the other cannot.  Other viewers say that number because the cluster contains "the seven sisters".  Actually, there are many more stars in the cluster, and it is by far, the brightest open one in one sky.  The Hyades is seemingly even more open than the Pleiades, and the stars are only slightly dimmer.  However, the near-"V" shape of the Hyades (minus Aldebaran of course making it look more like a wide check-mark), is not quite as impressive as a cluster that looks like something else in the sky.  

  

Jupiter, Aldebaran, and star clusters transit high

Event Date: December 3rd

Time: 11:53.18 PM

Brief

   I have put alot of attention towards Jupiter's opposition this year, since it happens when the planet is transiting very high; as a result of being north of the celestial equator.  Seen at or very close to zenith at global latitudes 21-22º, those folks are in for a real treat.  As for us, we feel as if we are still looking close to this high, since as an illusion, the altitude grid becomes more "squeezed" the closer we view towards zenith.  This can not be revealed by the software as shown below; the lines are evenly spaced here to avoid confusion and for correct increment showing.  Near Jupiter, now back in binocular view, is the red Giant star Aldebaran.  The Pleiades star cluster is a little further west-northwest of the planet, while the Hyades (Aldebaran not included, transits a little lower than Jupiter.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Although opposition for Jupiter has passed, it will remain a great viewing target for several weeks.  Since it isn't too far from its perihelion, it is still close enough to us to appear slightly larger in angular size; this in comparison to opposition 4 or 5 years from now, when it is closer to aphelion.  Two years ago, Jupiter reached perihelion in Pisces.  On Earth, we were between perihelion and aphelion for that opposition, meaning that we had one of the closer encounters with Jupiter during its 12-year cycle.  The year before was not much different.  Jupiter's apparent magnitude reached close to -3 under such orientations of the planets, while this year a little further away from it, Jupiter is -2.8(3), yet not noticeably dimmer.  When the planet reaches opposition in 2016 and '17, take note of the mentioned apparent magnitudes then.  Even though the planet will be further and measurably dimmer for those, it is still large enough to give us an an impressive showing of its belts and zones-- the dark and light bands of ammonia clouds, respectively.  Just as fascinating under clear, stable-air skies, about every 10 hours, its great Red Spot* (storm) transiting the meridian and in very good view.

NOTE: as a result of the software not doing update calculations for the Spot, I will rarely show it magnified or give a time.  Find out more about that at various websites including www.skyandtelescope.com 

Jupiter at opposition: setting and rising

Event Date: December 2nd

Time: 7:12 AM/4:49 PM

Brief

   As mentioned yesterday, Jupiter has reached opposition today, and setting just a few minutes after Sunrise.  Although likely too low into atmospheric pollution to see easily, Jupiter is still above the horizon when the Sun is, making this opposition unique.  Over the last few days, Jupiter was a little higher above the horizon, as it was closer to the Sun--west of it--at that time.  

   The first image shows Jupiter setting in the west-northwest, just as the Sun's western limb tangents the horizon and starts to "lighten our world" and unofficially, begin our day.  The second image shows Jupiter rising in the east-northeast, shortly after the Sun sets.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

Each day with retrograde, Jupiter has moved slightly further west, while the Sun constantly moves east, seen from Earth.  Also as a result of retrograde, Jupiter has lost a little northern declination.  When it had reached stationary a couple of months ago, it was a little further north.  Next year's opposition will have it about as far north as it gets on the celestial dome.  Either way, whether we view it then or tonight, we get to see it transit very high, not far from zenith, and spending almost 14 1/2 hours above the horizon.  As we are aware, near the June solstice mark in the sky, that is about the duration of our Sun above the horizon, seen from mid-northern latitudes.  Next year, when the Sun is closest to maximum northern declination at opposition, we will see it still barely above the horizon when Jupiter rises.  Until then, enjoy it here, still spending almost the entire night above the horizon.

  

Winter Circle seen east during evening

Event Date: December 1st

Time: 10:00 PM

Brief

   With the December solstice only about three weeks away, the namesake month begins with a "bang" each year, for mid-northern latitude viewers looking at rising constellations and bright stars in the east.  Why? 

During late-evening hours, the Winter Circle dominates this part of the sky, with the stars labeled below.  Some are brighter than magnitude +1, while others even close to or brighter than magnitude zero (i.e. Capella and Sirius).  Seen here, are the stars forming the circle, along with Jupiter, nearly at opposition, rising shortly before Aldebaran, plus stars in the Hyades cluster.  The Moon as a big waning gibbous, is seen rising also  in southeastern Gemini.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Although we currently have to wait until about the time above to see Sirius get high enough to easily see, most of the other stars can be seen above the horizon an hour earlier-- save Procyon, which is about as far east as Sirius yet requires a shorter wait.  Capella, which is the most northern of the stars, rises about two hours before it gets dark enough to see, allowing us to have a few last days to see its light refract through our atmosphere and give a "Christmasy" red-green, rapid-twinkle appearance.  Besides that, Betelgeuse and Aldrebaran are both cool, orange-red giants many times larger than the Sun, and Rigel is super-hot.  The latter is predicted to appear as bright as a full Moon, if not somewhat moreso, if it goes supernova; a true explosion, for such a hot star that is already 51,200 times more luminous that the Sun.  Fortunately for us, it is estimated to have a distance of 777 light years; such a large number will (hopefully!) keep us safe from any life-threatening radiation, or worse(?).

   Enjoy the view of the huge star pattern, and keep an eye on Jupiter all evening long; it will still be above the horizon tomorrow morning at Sunset as well!  I will show about that tomorrow.

Mars' celestial and local paths (update)

Event Date: November 30th

Time: 5:15 PM

Brief

   Let's back the clock up about 45 minutes [from yesterday's entry], and see how Mars is doing; still "hovering" the horizon after Sunset for the last several weeks.  This makes sense, because for the next few weeks, Mars will seemingly be the same altitude at this time on the clock.  As shown by its local path below, coupled with its celestial path, we notice two things: (1) the local path reminds us that the geometry of the west-southwestern sky is slowly improving, as we get close to December; (2) the celestial path reminds us how quickly Mars is picking up speed in pro-grade motion; fast enough to pull away from the Sun to a point where it won't reach conjunction until March of next year.

   Here is Mars, and paths shown over the last 9 weeks: 

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Although hard to notice, the increment markers for the orange celestial path are slightly further apart between where the Sun is shown, and where Mars is.  Of course, the Sun covers the path since it has played "catchup" with Mars over the last few months while the planet has been low in the west.  As for the local path, we see it "level out", as the clock's time is the same each day.  For a long time, this path had a steep slope, but221  not now!  Mars' apparition continues remain decent for viewing for about 30 minutes after Sunset, before falling into atmospheric pollution.  At a little dimmer than +1, viewing time is short, and will become shorter each month as the planet finally gets too close to the Sun's glare.  Try for it, yet remember to stay away from too many buildings and trees that could obstruct the view.

Uranus and Neptune: well placed for viewing

Event Date: November 29th

Time: 6:00 PM

Brief

   Let's take a look at our very-outer planets in the early evening sky, now that the Moon is out of the way for at least a short while, before rising.  Uranus and Neptune are often overshadowed by the much brighter planets closer to the Sun than them, which is no surprise.  However, these planets seem to resemble each other more than any other two-planet combination, which I will mention more in the detailed section.

   Here are the two planets seen near transit altitudes.  I picked a time for when the sky is dark enough for a viewer to start seeing Neptune through a telescope, while the big, waning gibbous Moon is still just below the horizon.  The planets are far enough from the Moon in separation, that the glare won't really get in their way for a few more hours.  However, if you are in a location normally dark enough to normally (barely) see Uranus, that will not be possible once the Moon gets high enough.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

     Neptune is about 41º in altitude, just shy of its maximum which it reached [at transit] 17 minutes ago.  Uranus is about 1 hour, 50 minutes from transit, using the time above.  When at viewing the two planets through a powerful-enough telesecope, and knowing characteristics of them, we can think about their similarities, as mentioned above in the brief.  Besides both being gas planets with high methane content (smelly too, I'm sure!), they are relatively the same size in diameter and therefore, volume.  Their colors are similar through most telescopes, while Uranus has more of a green hue than than Neptune's cold-deep blue color.  For more on their "sister-like" similarities, read this interesting link: 

On a similar note, one of our current morning planets, Venus, is often considered Earth's "twin".  Such a term, is a result of the two being very similar in diameter; moreso than Uranus and Neptune.  Neptune is about one Earth-diameter smaller than Uranus.  Sticking with the outer gas giants, their orbital periods are longer than many people live...at least Neptune's which of 164 years is coincidentally, almost exactly twice that of Uranus' 84 years.

Full Moon close to Jupiter

Event Date: November 28th

Time: 6:35.(54) PM

Brief

   We have had an interesting morning with Saturn and Venus in recent days.  Let us however, turn our attention back to the evening sky, with the just-past full Moon (cresting about 12 hours prior to above-time).  Right above the Moon, as seen from our location, is Jupiter, nearing opposition itself!  There is no need to label them below, as they are--along with Venus--the brightest bodies in our sub-horizon Sun skies.  Here they are when the Moon meets Jupiter with the same azimuth (75º 25.9') as the Moon moves from Jupiter's bottom right to its bottom left.  The two have their smallest separation shortly before rising, and their at the time of the same azimuth, they are just under 2º apart, as shown below.  The first image is a zoom-out, showing the ecliptic, Moon and Jupiter's orbits.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   This is a fine pairing for the two bright solar system bodies, as they reflect so much Sunshine towards us.  When the Moon gets close enough to planets, especially if that planet is near the ecliptic, it means one other thing: the Moon must be close to one of its nodes with the ecliptic and therefore, an eclipse may not be far.  That is the case this time, as a penumbral eclipse of the Moon happens early this morning.  It will be hard to see the natural "filtering" of the Moon's light, looking about the same brightness to the eyes.  However, with a telescope, the shadow that the Earth puts on the Moon may become barely visible.  Let's put it this way: you will know that it is being shadowed, if you find that a filter to reduce the brightness isn't necessary!  Try using a medium magnification, between 50-70 magnification, to give such a test, and see if you notice a difference!

   

Mercury-Spica-Arcturus: "trio-up"!

Event Date: November 27th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   As Venus and Saturn slowly start to separate, with the former moving much faster in pro-grade motion, we can notice that the pair is surrounded by yet, another triangle: two stars, one planet.  Of course, our actual Summer Triangle's stars are set below the horizon at this time of night, not-morning visible for about another 6-7 weeks (Altair being the last to rise).  Until then, notice that Arcturus, Spica and Mercury make a temporary triangle.  Mercury is catching up fast with Arcturus in apparent magnitude, as it approaches greatest western elongation.  The two stars of course, make up two-thirds of the Spring Arc asterism, which we recognize more easily as it is seen high in the evening during the namesake season.

   Here is the triangle below:

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Mercury continues to brighten even after it passes greatest elongation.  However, Saturn's rising of about four minutes earlier means that it will pull away quickly, while Venus moves towards superior conjunction much more slowly that Mercury.  Watch the configuration of the triangle daily, as we reach the end of Mercury's western apparition; the triangle becomes expanded, with Mercury if thought as the apex, the "stretched out" point.  During this time, we see Venus slightly gain ground on Mercury moving west to east, until Mercury picks up much faster in prograde motion and pulls further away from Venus.  We also have another "visitor" to this part of the sky, visiting both planets and forming a much smaller triangle with them: the Moon!  We know that the Moon comes near the planets as it moves past the stars, and sometimes closer to the planets than others.  The waning crescent will reach this part of the sky early next month.

Venus and Saturn well paired--Mercury brightening

Event Date: November 26th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   This morning, have a powerful telescope ready with a high magnification.  That is, even with the small field of an eyepiece providing over 50x magnification, Venus and Saturn fit nicely in a 1º field.  The field can be decreased further to capture their 0.7º separation.  Of course, the magnification can be increased further to see the rings of Saturn (not visible at 50x with the software), and the phase of Venus more easily as a tiny, waxing gibbous.  Alhough the software doesn't magnify either planet to see such detail in image two, I will show them anyway there, preceded by a zoom-in of the planets.  Mercury (+0.5 and quickly brightening) is present in the first one also with its orbit, to show that greatest elongation is not far.  

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   As Mercury moves a little further from perihelion each day, while we move slightly closer to the Sun each day for our own perihelion, that helps speed up its brightness.  Why?  Simple-- we are moving closer to the planet, so seeing slightly more surface area lit up, and more intensely.  There are times when we have the opposite in the spring and early summer; we are approaching aphelion and Mercury is approaching perihelion when nearing inferior conjunction.  Venus of course, while moving towards superior conjunction, brightens much more slowly than Mercury at some points in its cycle.  Venus can be decreasing quickly in illumination percentage while increasing in angular size, which happens before inferior conjunction as an evening target.  Venus wanes fast during those weeks, so somewhere in between, the planet reaches a maximum apparent magnitude.  Finally, Saturn as an outer planet, has the least change in apparent magnitude, not changing much in distance with us between opposition and conjunction.  Of course, the more attractive thing to look at with Saturn is its impressive ring-angle to our eyes, which I will come back to highly magnified, later in the month.

   

Mercury seen higher; Saturn & Venus close

Event Date: November 25th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   A fine, planetary trio is taking shape in the east-southeast, now that Mercury (+0.8) has quickly emerged from the Sun and brightening each morning.  Further west-southwest of the elusive planet, is Venus, quickly catching up with, and closing in on Saturn.  The two are now 1.7º apart, and peaking tomorrow morning (visibly).  The absolute peak happens while the two are already below the horizon later in the day.  Can you predict how separated they will be tomorrow morning, based on how much faster Venus moves in prograde than Saturn?  

Here they are this morning, with Mercury nearby with its orbit showing.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   This morning, Mercury rises one hour, twenty minutes before the Sun already, despite not being too close to greatest elongation yet.  The geometry of this "side" of the sky for the morning is still very good, although getting slightly worse each day.  As Mercury separates from the Sun however, is is still a good ecliptic latitude of over 2º north.  The Sunrise gap between the Mercury and the Sun happens a few days before greatest elongation, at the beginning of next month.  By then, the planet will brighten further, while the configuration of it, Venus and Saturn gradually changes into a near-straight line.  Later in the month, they receive "company" by another solar system body: the waning, crescent Moon!  Look forward to that, and monitor Mercury's fine apparition between now and then.

Uranus at transit, followed by gibbous Moon

Event Date: November 24th

Time: 8:09(.18) PM

Brief

   Yesterday, the Moon was close enough to Uranus that trying to view it through a telescope would lead to it being washed out.  This evening, it is only slightly smaller in phase and about 10º further away.  Therefore, although it washes out the planet as seen with our eyes (under normally dark enough sky conditions), a telescope can pick it up with not as much glare.  If the glare becomes a huge issue, a higher powered eyepiece can help take away some of the glare; the planet may be a little harder to see brightness-wise, yet not too noticeably if your telescope gathers enough light.  

Here is the planet at transit, with the meridian also showing.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Uranus is still at a declination where it seemingly traces out the celestial equator.  At declination 1.2º north, viewers at that latitude on Earth (South America, Africa, far east Islands) can see the planet at zenith if skies are very clear and dark.  Unfortunately, that part of the world is not ideal for observatories, or at least astrophotography, with so much humidity.  At mid-southern latitudes, the planet is still seen transiting high enough.  It is even at very good altitudes for the two hours on either side of transit to be far enough out of atmospheric pollution.  Over the next 20 years, Uranus will move further in declination, reaching sky coordinates of the June-solstice Sun by about that time, in the early 2030's.  At that time, it will also be slightly brighter, as it approaches perihelion about 20 years later, early in the year 2051.  By then, instead of magnitude 5.8, it will peak at magnitude 5.3, making it slightly easier to see in very dark skies.  Until that time, enjoy it moving past stars in many constellations: the rest of Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, and finally Leo, spending about 7 years on average, in each.

  

Neptune transit: eastern quadrature

Event Date: November 23rd

Time: 6:09.(40) AM

Brief

   Neptune has just past eastern quadrature by a couple of days: 90º elongated from the Sun, which happens about halfway between opposition and conjunction for outer planets.  Of course, inner planets do not have quadrature west or east, yet instead of have 2 conjunctions: inferior, as we saw with the Venus transit as an extreme example in June, and superior, when the planets go behind the Sun for awhile.

More about quadrature is in the detailed section, while for the moment, I will show Neptune transiting.  With quadrature two days ago, Neptune's separation from the set-Sun is 88.2º.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   For eastern quadrature, it simply means that the Sun has progressed approximately one-quarter of the way through the sky along the ecliptic, relative to the planet that it had opposition with.  Since the orbits of each planet are not quite even with the ecliptic, it is because of that, that the Sun may not have to go exactly one quarter of the way during the calendar year.  Also, because of a planet's prograde and retrograde motions, seen at different lengths and rates for each planet depending on its distance from Earth and the Sun, that can also play a part as well.

   Sometimes, depending where the Sun and a planet are in the sky, the Sun may be set when the planet transits, as seen with this example, or not set.  Since the Sun spends very little time above the horizon at this time of year compared to the weeks surrounding the June solstice (summer for us), it means that the separation with Neptune must come from the Sun starting there, if we think in terms of angles.

Seen also in the image, near the waxing Moon, is Uranus, although too washed out perhaps to easily see this evening with a small telescope.  Once the Moon is out of the way, Uranus' green-blue color becomes easier to see in even some small telescopes.

Venus-Saturn separation--binocular friendly

Event Date: November 22nd

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

For a few times, I will return to the Venus/Saturn pairing this week, as they are now only slightly more than 5º separated, and easily fitting into most binocular fields.  A very low f-ratio telescope can also fit them, although such would require a low-magnification eyepiece as well.  For now, we will stick to a binocular field of 7º.  First shown below, are the two planets, with Mercury further east, (+2.0). The latter is still too dim to see easily, yet that will change quickly over the next several days.  Venus and Saturn are much easier to see, being brighter and higher up.  The second image shows them in the aforementioned binocular field, which magnifies them only 10x.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

  With the magnification given, the software doesn't show Saturn's rings, although realistically, they may be barely visible if a camera was used with the same magnification, and zoomed in just as much.  They are at a good enough angle towards our eyes, that with the clearest of skies they may be barely visible, depending how dark the sky is, and their tilt towards the Sun,  As for Venus, it will be hard to see its waxing phase also at such a small magnitude. To see characteristics of each, a 3" telescope should provide more than enough magnification.  If you have a bigger telescope, that will help bring out Venus and Saturn's phase and rings respectfully, better.  While we only have Venus visible on our morning sky easily for another couple of months, Saturn will be transiting during dawn by about the time we lose Venus, shortly before Sunlight, and then reach opposition this spring.  Be ready for a long night of ring-watching, yet don't forget its disc, which at times can reveal amazing--albeit temporary--characteristics!

Mars staying high enough; zoomed while far

Event Date: November 21st

Time: 5:00 PM

Brief

   Here is Mars, about two hours before setting and 17º in altitude.  Being that high, the planet can be seen dimly above housetops and small trees for a limited time, before getting obstructed and too deep in atmospheric pollution.

   The first image shows the planet near the ecliptic, with the evening western sky's geometry now improved compared to its early-September worst.  The second image is a 270x zoom-in of Mars, after having waxed slightly to nearly full status. 

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Notice also in the first image, since I forgot to de-label Venus, that we know where it is below the horizon!  I usually catch such a goof, yet it will leave it for now, to show a feature of the software!

Getting back to the Red Planet of topic, Mars is about as high in the sky as it was then when it was further separated with the Sun, yet it was much further south of the Sun when we saw the pair in September.  It still is moving further away from us in orbit and therefore, featureless through most telescopes,  When Mars is at opposition, it is normally more than twice the apparent magnitude as when near conjunction, being so many millions of miles closer to us.  When we view it at just about any magnification when nearing conjunction, it is hard to enlarge it, being so much further away.  Once we lose it to the Sun's glare and conjunction, we will have to wait until the middle of next year to see it easily before Sunrise in the morning and even then, it will once again be too far to see any features with a telescope.  Opposition happens in the spring of 2014 and until then, it is a long wait--until late next year--before we have a decent telescopic view of Mars.  Once it is within 2 months of opposition however, it starts to become easier to see the red color with the eye.

Venus and Saturn closer; Mercury very low

Event Date: November 20th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   Although Mercury is not quite visible enough to see with optical aid through the Sun's glare and atmospheric pollution, it will be easier in a few days.  In the meantime while we wait, let's take a look at Venus and Saturn approaching each other, with a fine conjunction in about a week.  Venus continues to approach the Sun for superior conjunction early next year, while Saturn pulls away from our star each day, separation-wise.  With the Sun still rising several seconds later each morning, Saturn rises a little less than four minutes earlier each morning.  Here they are with their images, shown along the ecliptic, with Mercury featured low as well, in orbit.

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

   Mercury brightens quickly for the rest of this month and next, while it approaches superior conjunction.  As it reaches that, it approaches aphelion and therefore, moves a little further from us on average, in regards to its orbit around the Sun.  Since we are approaching perihelion however, we keep up with Mercury slightly, and it becomes a good target with the Sun rising late and far south.

   As for Venus, it continues to wax as it decreases in angular size.  Although it is reflecting less Sunlight to our eyes, we still see it a little less than (-) 4 in magnitude, outshining everything around it except when the Moon is near.  As for Saturn, it is much dimmer than Venus, yet the ring tilt towards us means a very good magnitude for its upcoming opposition this spring.  Even now, as Saturn is just past conjunction, the ring tilt is good enough that we see it brighter than most stars nearby, at magnitude +0.6.  For some constellations, this may seem pedestrian.  However, now in eastern Virgo, only Spica (unlabeled, near Venus) is similar in brightness to Saturn, while most other Virgo stars, and those in western Libra, are much dimmer.

   

Mercury--before good morning apparition

Event Date: November 20th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   We have not had a good apparition of Mercury in the morning sky since very early in the calendar year.  It is during September and early October that we have some of the best geometry of the sky looking east in the morning.  However, for the last couple of years, Mercury has spent time setting after the Sun for periods close to two months, during that [time] frame.  Now, we have it back in the morning while the geometry is slowly failing, yet still decent enough to give us a very good view of Mercury.  Here it is, quickly emerging from the Sun while still in retrograde.  In about a week, it will start to become visible with optical aid and then about a week later, with the eye.  The orbit shows below in the image, and look at the angle with not only the horizon, yet the ecliptic as well!

click on image to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

As shown, and hinted at the end of the brief, Mercury's ecliptic latitude will improve enough over the next several days, that it will not be too affected by the geometry of this part of the morning sky getting a little worse each week.  Mercury will become a little further north of the Sun each day that it moves in retrograde and therefore, will become visible out of the glare before long.  That, and it is just past perihelion, which happened about a week ago.  Therefore, as it emerges from the Sun, it will move far enough away from it that it stays close enough to us.  Since we are moving towards perihelion ourselves on Earth, we are moving a bit towards the sun while Mercury moves slowly away from it.  At the same time, Mercury's perihelion helps it reflect more Sunlight and brighten quickly between now and greatest western elongation.  

Venus and Saturn's celestial and local paths

Event Date: November 18th

Time: 6:30 AM

Brief

   Yesterday, I glazed over the Venus separation with Saturn, as the former slowly closes in with the Sun in separation, and the latter separates further from the Sun.  Of course, we are talking about what we witness when having an outer and inner planet, seen west of the Sun.  As the days of fall pass, we get to see them approach each other for an excellent conjunction not far away.  By plotting yesterday's celestial path of Saturn, it showed the position of the planet against the stars.  This time however, let's also show the local path of both planets, as we view each relative to the horizon at the same time each day over a span of 30 days.  Much closer Venus' increment markers will be more separated than Saturn's for the celestial path (orange) in image 1.  However, for the local path (green), we see a different separation pattern of them, in image 2.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

By looking at image one, it is easy to let the separation of the markers deceive a person to think that these planets are in a "tortoise and the hare" type of race, with Venus catching up with Saturn and passing it by; that is exactly what will happen...although there is no finish line with no unprecedented winner
Enough of that however, getting back to the paths themselves.  Looking at the second image, we see how each day, the two have their paths coming from different directions.  Nearby, we see Spica, where the two will meet for their conjunction.  Spica will not be part of the same conjunction, yet make an arc with the planets in a couple of days.  Naturally, this arc will be much smaller than the one we see it forming with Arcturus and the Big Dipper's handle, mentioned at an earlier date for this blog. 
   Although there will not be an occultation of Saturn by Venus, as extremely rare as that is anyway.  The two planets will pass by the same altitude/azimuth of the sky, about this time on November 27th.  If they were further separated, these lines would never cross, yet be parallel with each other, covering the span of several days....even more rare than an occultation!