Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Week: November 6-12, 2023
This week is the perfect time to go stargazing. With the moon reaching Last Quarter a few nights ago, it rises after midnight. That clears the way for inky-black night skies—though you must find a location away from light pollution to best take advantage.
Although there is a minor meteor shower this week, the best sight—aside from the bright stars of winter rising in the west after dark—will be a crescent moon in conjunction with the brilliant planet Venus, but you’ll need to be awake very early! Even the lazy planet-gazer can feast their eyes on bright Jupiter, shining in the east immediately after sunset.
Monday and Tuesday, November 6 and 7: Moon And Regulus
Here are two chances to catch a waning crescent moon close to Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Rising in the east at about 01:00 a.m. (wherever you are in the northern hemisphere) and visible all night long will be a 40% and 31%-lit moon on either side on respective nights. Wait until about 03:00 a.m. and bright Venus will appear beneath.
Thursday, November 9: Moon And Venus In Conjunction
Here’s arguably the most beautiful sight of the week, but it will take some dedication to see. Look due east at 3:00 a.m. and you’ll see a 15% waning crescent moon appear very close to a bright Venus—though you can see the two together for the rest of the night higher in the sky.
Saturday/Sunday, November 11/12: Northern Taurid Meteor Shower
Although it only issues five “shooting stars” per hour, the Northern Taurid meteor shower produces bright fireballs. If you see one this week—on any night—it’s likely a Northern Taurid.
Another reason to watch on the peak night is that this meteor shower will take place in moonless night skies. It will be at its best after midnight when the skies are at their darkest and the source constellation, Taurus, is high in the southeast after midnight.
Stars Of The Week: The Pleiades and Orion’s Belt
Go outside about 10:00 p.m. and look east for some of the most beautiful—and brightest—stars of the winter night sky. High in the southeast will be Jupiter, shining brightly, with the fascinating open cluster, the Pleiades, to its left. Below it, you will find the unmistakable “Orion’s Belt” rising vertically. Now pick out Orion’s two brightest stars—Betelgeuse to the left of the belt stars and Rigel to the right. You’re ready for winter!
Stargazing Tip Of The Week: Rooms With A View
If you develop the hobby of stargazing into a lifestyle, it’s worth considering the orientation of any property you buy. That may sound drastic, but prospective homeowners always think about the “aspect” concerning the sun—so why not the stars and planets?
A second or third floor is helpful to see down to the horizon. If you have west-facing windows, then you will be able to see moonsets (and crescent moons), sunsets, planets and constellations in the evening twilight.
If your upper windows are east-facing, you’ll be able to observe the rise of the full moon each month easily, as well as early-morning crescent moons and the first seasonal appearance of stars and planets.
North-facing will get you views of the aurora in the northern hemisphere (if you get fortunate) and, in summer, noctilucent clouds, while a south-facing aspect will bring views of the moon high in the sky and the star-studded constellations of summer.
Times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.