Sky Report
The Griffith Observatory Sky Report
Anthony Cook
Astronomical Observer
This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the week ending Wednesday, November 25. Here is what’s happening in the skies of Southern California:
Jupiter, shining with a steady yellow light from Capricornus the Sea-Goat, is the bright evening planet visible in the south-southwest as the sky darkens. Now on its way out of the evening sky, Jupiter sets at about 10:30 p.m. this week.
The waxing crescent moon appears in the evening sky on Wednesday, the 18th, 9 degrees high in the west-southwest at 5:30 p.m. It appears close to Jupiter on Monday night, November 23, and reaches first-quarter phase on the next night.
This is Mars observing season for early-risers. The bright orange planet, now occupying Cancer the Crab, rises in the east-northeast at 10:00 p.m., and is 74 degrees high in the south at dawn. High telescopic magnification is required in order to see details on the planet’s 9-arcsecond wide disk. This week we face the volcanic Tharsis desert region of Mars.
The start of dawn, at about 5:00 a.m., is also the best time to observe the ringed planet Saturn. Saturn appears as a steady bright yellow star, now visiting Virgo the Maiden. Saturn appears midway between Mars and the east-southeast horizon. A telescope will show that the north side of Saturn’s rings are tilted 4 degrees towards us from edge-on.
Mark the evening of Wednesday, December 16 on your Calendar for a special Observatory event that will provide information on how to choose a good astronomical telescope or binocular, either for yourself or to give as a holiday gift.
Free public viewing of the sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night, is available through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes until 9:45 p.m., every night–weather permitting–except Mondays, when the Observatory is closed. The next public star party, held by members of the Los Angeles Astronomical Society and the Los Angeles Sidewalk Astronomers, will be held on the Observatory’s front lawn on Saturday, November 21.
The Sky Report is updated every Wednesday. It can be heard as a recorded phone message by calling (213) 473-0880. From Griffith Observatory, I’m Tony Cook, and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.
