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Weekly Stargazing Tips
Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii). Check out last week's tips or the Sky Almanac if you missed a night.
November 17, 2009
November evenings are good times to watch the Milky Way, which is the combined glow of millions of stars in the disk of our Milky Way galaxy. It arches from east to west, with a dip toward the northern horizon. You need a dark sky to see the Milky Way.
November 18, 2009
The Moon will peek into view in the southwest shortly after sunset this evening. It is a bare crescent, although most of its "dark" portion is illuminated by earthshine, which is sunlight reflected off of Earth.
November 19, 2009
The two nearest star clusters to Earth appear in the constellation Taurus, the bull. The Hyades forms the bull's V-shaped face, while the Pleiades forms a tiny dipper north of the Hyades. Look for them high in the east this evening.
November 20, 2009
The Great Square of Pegasus stands high in the south on November evenings. Its right side, which marks the square's western edge, points down toward Fomalhaut, the brightest star of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish.
November 21, 2009
Orion, the hunter, is in view low in the east by 10 p.m. Look for his belt -- a short line of three stars that stands almost straight up from the horizon. Bright orange Betelgeuse is to the left of the belt, with blue-white Rigel to the right.
November 22, 2009
The Moon takes aim at Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system, tonight. They are well up in the south at nightfall and set in late evening. Jupiter is to the upper left of the Moon and looks like a dazzling star.
November 23, 2009
Look for Jupiter just below the Moon this evening. The giant planet looks like a brilliant star. It far outshines all of the true stars in the night sky, so it's hard to miss.
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