Jupiter (& Other Planets) In November!!

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November is a fabulous month for viewing the planets in our solar system! 

From the northern hemisphere, Jupiter is the easiest to see.  Without a telescope, Jupiter "rises" in the East at about sunset, stays up all night, and then "sets" in the west about sunrise.  At the end of the month it will set an hour or two before dawn.  Jupiter is the brightest "star" in the November night sky.  If you have a telescope or strong binoculars, you can easily see Jupiter's biggest moons too!

Mars rises in the East at about midnight and shines in front of the constellation Leo until dawn.

Saturn rises in the East shortly before dawn.

Mercury and Venus can be seen in early evening, if you can get a clear view of the Western horizon.  By the end of November, Mercury will set shortly before dusk (making it impossible to see).  Venus, however, will set later and later, making it easier to see immediately after sundown.  If you have binoculars or a telescope, and can see Venus in early November, aim your binoculars at Venus.  You should be able to see the fainter Mercury close to Venus.

Check them out!  Which planets did you find?

 note:  This article is reprinted from last November--it's a topic I love, and I think you might enjoy it...even if you did see it last year!  



I may share at any of these parties!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Thanks for the tips. I never noticed these things before marrying my husband, but he is always scanning the sky and pointing out Venus and anything else visible that he can identify. It really is a lot of fun!
November 5, 2012 at 1:14 PM
Carla at Preschool Powol Packets said…
That's awesome! I love looking at the skies with my family too!
November 5, 2012 at 1:22 PM
Ticia said…
I'm with you and I love astronomy too. Thanks for linking to Science Sunday!
November 10, 2012 at 10:56 PM
Deb Chitwood said…
Thanks so much for the great information. It's easy to miss something like that at a busy time of year, yet it's such a wonderful activity to study the skies. I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LivingMontessoriNow
November 11, 2012 at 4:59 PM
Carla at Preschool Powol Packets said…
Ticia, Isn't it wonderful!

Thanks so much for sharing, Deb! It is really easy to miss these quiet night time "events!"
November 12, 2012 at 2:35 PM
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