| Observatory |
What's Up...
Some observing hilights
to look forward to...
The following tips on current and upcoming astronomical events
have been assembled for our Okanagan region by Dave Gamble
with the objective of giving OC RASC members a heads-up on
special personal astro-experiences to look forward to.
Sat. Nov. 1 - Get set for our annual jolt! Yes, daylight saving time will end overnight tonight, so be sure to turn your clocks one hour back before retiring. Looking on the bright side, it is a time to savour since there will now be one less hour of evening daylight and an extra hour of night sky observing starting tomorrow.
Sat. Nov. 1 – For those looking for a celestial distraction to kick off the new month, Algol will perform another of its ‘blinks’ this evening. This time ‘the Devil Star’ will reach its minimum brightness in a two hour time period centered 11.23pm. Comparing its full brightness before or around 10pm and then revisiting the grouping of stars in Perseus after 10.30pm will make it possible to appreciate its magic.
Sun. Nov. 2 – Luna’s waxing gibbous face will be high in the sky tonight as our neighbour passes above bright Saturn amongst the faint stars of the ‘water constellations’ below Pegasus.
Tues. Nov. 4 – This evening will offer another opportunity to catch ‘the Demon Star’ in one of its blinks. Algol in Perseus, high in the east, will reach its minimum brightness in a two hour time period centered at 10.12pm. Compare its its regular brightness before 9pm with its dimmer self around 10.30pm and the difference will be evident.
Wed. Nov. 5 – This is Full Moon night and Luna will look down from high in the sky among the faint stars of Aries for any signs of an early winter in the Okanagan. So she can make sure, Luna is now at perigee, the closest part of her orbit from the Earth and may be noticed to look a bit more impressive because of it.
Thurs. Nov. 6 – If you have a notion to have a look at the inner ice giant Uranus, tonight would be a good time to choose since the Moon and the stars of Taurus will provide a bit of a road map. The small pale green disk will be found close to a line between Luna and Aldebaran and the Hyades, just a bit closer to the Moon’s position and below the Pleiades. There’ll be lots of celestial distraction which should provide extra fun.
Mon. Nov. 10 – The moon, now in waning gibbous phase will find herself among interesting company tonight. Not only will she be in a straight line below Castor and Pollux in Gemini, but brilliant Jupiter will provide the leg of a capital ‘L’ off to the lower right.
Tues. Nov. 11 - Don't be surprised if you hear reports of an occasional bright fireball this month. If you’re lucky enough to see one yourself, it’s likely to be a member of one of the two Taurid meteor showers, the southern one peaked on Oct. 29-30 though members continue through to November 20. The northern one reaches its maximum tonight with members emanating from a point just southwest of the Pleiades in Taurus. This year with Luna at Last Quarter, her glare will interfere with this modest shower, however the comet debris from Comet 2P/Encke includes pebbles as well as dust grains and these produce the dramatic fireballs which would be visible despite Luna’s interference.
Fri. Nov. 14 - Since we’re entering a dark moon period, this will be one the last opportunities to view the faint Zodiacal Light, a delicate glowing triangle of light extending up from the easrtern horizon about an hour before sunrise. The phenomenon is caused by the Sun illuminating dust in the solar system's equatorial plane. Having the Moon out of the way will help, but a dark sky location is also needed for the delicate triangle of light to show.
Mon. Nov. 17 - The annual Leonid meteor shower will peak after midnight tonight. The Leonids are known as being among the fastest meteors, hitting the Earth's atmosphere head on from a radiant point in the sickle of Leo in the eastern morning sky. The Leonids are not a strong meteor shower with perhaps only around 10 - 15 streaks per hour at maximum, but this year Luna will be out of the way in the Sun’s direction.
Mon. Nov. 24 - Making the most of the constellation Perseus’ prominent location high in the late fall-early winter sky, the eclipsing variable star Algol will offer another magic show tonight. This time its two hour dimmest stage will be centered at 8.55pm, offering the chance to compare its diminished brightness with neighbouring stars around 9pm with its ‘regular’ appearance before 7pm.
Wed. Nov. 26 – The fact that Jupiter moves right along will be evident tonight as we visit the banded cloud giant and find he’s now located below Pollux among the stars of Gemini.
Fri. Nov. 28 – This is First Quarter Moon night as our neighbour is well into her next journey across our night sky. To mark the occasion Luna will complement ringed Saturn to brighten the faint star pattern of Aquarius.