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Celestial
Events Calendar
Tuesday, November 1, 2005:
7:23 PM CST – New
Moon, the beginning of lunation cycle 1025, from New Moon to new Moon
(The count began in 1922)
Thursday,
November 3, 2005:
The equation of time is at one of its maximums. The Sun will
arrive at its overhead position 16.47 minutes before noon.
10 AM CST – Mercury is at its greatest elongation east, 23.5
o. In this cycle of Mercury’s apparent motion around the Sun it is
at its apparent maximum distance from the Sun in the evening sky. This is the
best day to view Mercury, just after sunset.
Saturday,
November 5, 2005:
Southern Taurid
meteor shower – active October 1 to November 25, ZHR = 3 meteors per hour.
Monday,
November 7, 2005:
3 AM CST – Mars is at
opposition. The earth is between mars and the Sun. Mars is visible all
night. This happens about every 2 years and it is the best time to view Mars.
In the coming months Mars will be very bright in the east after sunset.
Tuesday,
November 8, 2005:
7:57 PM CST – First
Quarter Moon
Wednesday,
November 9, 2005:
1 PM CST – Mercury is 1.9 o north of Antares
close to the ecliptic. It can be viewed in the early evening sky.
9 PM CST – The Moon is at the point in its orbit where it is
closest to the Earth, perigee ~ 232,000 miles
Saturday,
November 12, 2005:
Northern Taurid meteor
shower – active October 1 through November 25, ZHR = 5 meteors per hour
8 PM CST – The Moon is at its ascending node. It is at the
point in its orbit where it is crossing the plane of the Earth’s orbit and
heading northeast.
On this date in 1980, the Voyager I spacecraft flew past
Saturn.
Sunday, November 13, 2005:
On this date in 1971, Mariner 9 is the first spacecraft to
orbit Mars.
Monday,
November 14, 2005:
3 AM CDT – Mercury ceases it normal eastward drift through
the stars and begins a retrograde westward drift.
Tuesday,
November 15, 2005:
5 AM CST – Mars is at its ascending node moving through the
plane of the Earth’s orbit.
6:56 PM CST – Full
Moon, frosty or beaver moon
Thursday,
November 17, 2005:
Leonid meteor
shower – active November 14 through 21, ZHR is variable from 10 to 20 meteors
per hour. Every 33 years this is the most active meteor shower of all.
Friday,
November 18, 2005:
78th
meeting of the North Houston Astronomy Club
Sunday,
November 20, 2005:
On this date in 1889, Edwin Hubble was born.
Monday,
November 21, 2005:
Alpha Monocerotid
meteor shower – active November 15 to 25, the ZHR is variable from 5 to 400+.
11 PM CST – The Sun leaves the astrological sign of Scorpio
and enters the astrological sign of Sagittarius.
Tuesday,
November 22, 2005:
3 AM CST – Mercury is at its ascending node through the
plane of the Earth’s orbit, the ecliptic.
10 AM CST – Saturn ceases its apparent normal eastward drift
through the stars and begins a retrograde westward drift.
10 PM CST – The Sun leaves the astronomical constellation of
Libra and enters the astronomical constellation of Scorpius.
Wednesday,
November 23, 2005:
12 AM CST – The Moon is at apogee, the point in its orbit
where it is furthest from the Earth ~ 254,000 miles
4:12 PM CST – Last
Quarter Moon
Thursday,
November 24, 2005:
10 AM CST – Mercury is at inferior conjunction. Mercury is
between the Earth and the Sun and moving from the evening sky to the morning
sky.
Saturday,
November 26, 2005:
6 PM CST – Mercury is at perihelion, the point in its orbit
where it is closest to the Sun ~ 28.6 million miles
Sunday,
November 27, 2005:
1 AM CST – The Moon is at its descending node. It is
crossing the plane of the earth’s orbit and heading southeast.
Tuesday,
November 29, 2005:
5 PM CST – The Sun leaves the astronomical constellation of
Scorpius and enters the astronomical constellation of Ophiuchus, the serpent
barrier. Ophiuchus is the only constellation that the Sun moves through that is
not a sign in the ancient zodiac.