LISTEN to this week’s Sky Report
Standard time starts on Sunday November 2. Except in Hawaii and the non-Navajo Nation part of Arizona, where Daylight time is not observed, 1:59 a.m. Daylight time is followed by 1:00 a.m., Standard time. The most noticeable effect of the time change will be the time of sunrise and sunset. On Saturday, November 1, sunrise and sunset in Los Angeles happen at 7:13 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., PDT, respectively. On the next day, sunrise and sunset happen at 6:14 a.m. and 4:59 p.m., PST, respectively. Daylight Saving time will return on March 8, 2015.
The waxing crescent moon grows to first quarter phase on October 30. For the rest of the week it is gibbous. The moon is full on November 6.
Orange planet Mars, in Sagittarius the Archer, shines with the light of a first-magnitude star. It becomes visible about half an hour after sunset, 25 degrees above the southwest horizon. Mars sets three hours later.
The planet Jupiter is the brightest planet visible currently. Jupiter is well placed for observation in the second half of the night. Located in Leo the Lion, It rises above the eastern horizon at about midnight, Standard Time, and can still be seen against the blue sky, nearly 70 degrees high in the south, at sunrise.
The innermost planet, Mercury, makes its best morning appearance of 2014 at dawn on Saturday. Looking like a bright star, Mercury can be found at 6:10 a.m., PDT–more than an hour before sunrise– 5 degrees above the east-southeast horizon.
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 our schedule. The next 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 1.
Follow the Sky Report on Twitter for the latest updates.
From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.