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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report through November 22, 2018. Here’s what’s happening in the skies of southern California.
The moon’s phase reaches first quarter on the 15th, when it sets at about midnight, and it is full on the 22nd, when it is up all night long.
Two bright planets are visible as darkness falls. Golden-hued Saturn, in the constellation Sagittarius the Archer, can be seen only briefly, low in the southwest sky. It sets at about 7:30 p.m. Orange Mars, in Aquarius the Water Carrier, is highest in the south when it crosses the meridian at 6:20 p.m. The first quarter moon is only two degrees below Mars on the 15th.
The brightest planet, Venus, is spectacular as it gleams over the southeast horizon at the start of dawn. The crescent phase of the planet can now be seen with just about any telescope, including binoculars.
Observers equipped with telescopes and binoculars may want to keep their eyes on two brightening comets that will be of interest for the next few weeks.
Comet 46P/ Wirtanen is moving northward from the far-southern constellation Fornax the Furnace. The comet will be at its brightest during December, when it will be high overhead. It is best observed through binoculars and telescopes from dark-sky locations. The night of the 16th will be the last without moonlight interference until the 25th. The comet is glowing at about magnitude 7.5, and after moonset it is visible low in the south-southwest. A finder chart can be found on the Sky and Telescope webpage.
A newly discovered comet, 2018 V1/Macholtz-Fujikawa-Iwamoto, is best seen through telescopes in the constellation Virgo the Maiden just before the start of dawn, at 5:00 a.m. The comet may be observed at that time without interference from moonlight until November 21st. The comet is located 11 degrees above Venus on the 15th, and 12 degrees to the left of Venus on the 21st. The comet is brightening, and is reported to be about magnitude 8. No one yet knows how bright it will become, but by December it will be lost from view in the glare of the sun. Detailed observing information, including finder charts, are also available on the Sky and Telescope webpage. This is the 12th comet discovered visually by the American amateur astronomer, Don Macholz, who found it on November 7th. On the same date, Japanese amateur astronomers Shigehisa Fujikawa, and Masayuki Iwamoto independently noticed the comet on electronic images.
The Leonid meteor shower should reach its peak in the early morning hours of November 17th. The best observing time will start with the setting of the moon, at 12:47 a.m. and will continue until the start of dawn, at 5:00 a.m. This year, the Leonids are not expected to be strong. Even from dark sky locations, only about five meteors per hour are expected to trickle–not shower–from the meteor’s radiant, in the Sickle of the constellation Leo the Lion. A few Leonid meteors may be noted for about two weeks centered on the 17th.
Free views of the Sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes from Tuesday through Sunday, before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for the schedule. The next free public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place on Saturday, November 17th, from 2:00 to 9:30 p.m.
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From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook, and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.