Monthly Sky

November and December 2008

Current Lunar Phase:

The Planets:

Mercury: Mercury is visible as an early morning object until the end of November when it is in conjunction with the Sun. By mid December it becomes an early evening object low in the west after sunset.

Venus: Venus remains a bright beacon in the sky in the early evening low in the west after sunset. Be sure to see it in conjunction with Jupiter on November 30th.

Mars: Mars is in conjunction with the Sun and is not visible at this time.

Jupiter: Jupiter is easily seen in the southwestern sky at sunset until the end of this year when it is lost to the Sun's glow.

Saturn: Saturn rises in the early morning hours and slowly makes it way back into position for evening observing. It will be a fabulous springtime object.

Grainger Observatory Clear Sky Clock:

Also check:
National Weather Service Forecast for Exeter, NH
Grainger Observatory Current Weather

Daily Events:

Nov 2 Daylight Savings Time Ends.

Nov 3 Jupiter within 2 degrees of the Moon.

Nov 13 Moon a degree from the Pleiades cluster.

Dec 1 Venus and Jupiter within 2 degrees of each other.

Dec 11 Moon a degree from the Pleiades cluster.

Dec 13 Geminid Meteor Shower peaks.

Dec 21 Solstice (Winter north, Summer south).

Dec 25 Moon occults star Antares for observers in southern Africa.

Dec 29 Mercury and Jupiter occulted by the moon for observers in east Asia and Australia respectively.

Lunar Phases

FQ=First Quarter, FM=Full Moon, LQ=Last Quarter, NM=New Moon (All times are UT)

Date: Time: Phase: Notes:

Nov 06 04:03 FQ .

Nov 13 06:17 FM .

Nov 19 21:31 LQ .

Nov 27 16:55 NM .

Dec 05 21:26 FQ .

Dec 12 16:37 FM Lagest apparent diameter in 2008.

Dec 19 10:29 LQ .

Dec 27 12:22 NM .

Jan 04 11:56 FQ .

Mercury:	Mercury is visible as an early morning object until the end of November when it is in conjunction with the Sun. By mid December it becomes an early evening object low in the west after sunset.
Venus:	Venus remains a bright beacon in the sky in the early evening low in the west after sunset. Be sure to see it in conjunction with Jupiter on November 30th.
Mars:	Mars is in conjunction with the Sun and is not visible at this time.
Jupiter:	Jupiter is easily seen in the southwestern sky at sunset until the end of this year when it is lost to the Sun's glow.
Saturn:	Saturn rises in the early morning hours and slowly makes it way back into position for evening observing. It will be a fabulous springtime object.

Nov 2	Daylight Savings Time Ends.
Nov 3	Jupiter within 2 degrees of the Moon.
Nov 13	Moon a degree from the Pleiades cluster.
Dec 1	Venus and Jupiter within 2 degrees of each other.
Dec 11	Moon a degree from the Pleiades cluster.
Dec 13	Geminid Meteor Shower peaks.
Dec 21	Solstice (Winter north, Summer south).
Dec 25	Moon occults star Antares for observers in southern Africa.
Dec 29	Mercury and Jupiter occulted by the moon for observers in east Asia and Australia respectively.

Date:	Time:	Phase:	Notes:
Nov 06	04:03	FQ	.
Nov 13	06:17	FM	.
Nov 19	21:31	LQ	.
Nov 27	16:55	NM	.
Dec 05	21:26	FQ	.
Dec 12	16:37	FM	Lagest apparent diameter in 2008.
Dec 19	10:29	LQ	.
Dec 27	12:22	NM	.
Jan 04	11:56	FQ	.