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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between November 1 and November 30, 2024. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury sets in the west-southwest at 6:51 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun sets at 6:00 p.m., PDT, 51 minutes earlier. The planet is 77-percent illuminated and 5.8 arcseconds wide. A magnification of 150x is needed to see such a small disk. On the 26^th, the sun sets at 4:44 p.m., PST, and Mercury sets at 5:46 p.m., PST, with a disk 31-percent illuminated and 8.3 arcseconds wide. After the 26^th, Mercury will set less than one hour after the sun and will not be observable. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus sets in the west-southwest at 8:06 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, with a disk that is 77-percent illuminated and 14 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Venus sets at 7:46 p.m., PST, with a disk that is 68-percent illuminated and 17 arcseconds wide. A small telescope with a magnification of 100x will show the disk.

Mars rises in the east-northeast in Cancer the Crab, at 11:07 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, with a disk that is 89-percent illuminated and 9.2 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Mars rises at 8:43 p.m., PST, with a disk 92-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds wide. The planet will be two degrees northwest of the large open cluster Messier 44, nicknamed the Beehive. Mars increases in brightness, width, and amount of illumination until it reaches opposition on January 16, 2025.

Jupiter rises in the east-northeast in Taurus the Bull, at 8:17 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, with a disk 46 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Jupiter rises at 5:09 p.m., PST, and is 48 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn sets in the west-southwest in Aquarius the Water Bearer, at 2:48 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, with a disk 18 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Saturn sets at 11:50 p.m., PST, with a disk 17 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus rises in the east-northeast in Taurus the Bull, at 6:44 p.m., PDT, on the 1^st, with a disk 3.8 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Uranus sets in the west-northwest at 5:39 a.m., PST. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 32^m 13^s and declination +18° 50ʹ 19ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s disk.

Neptune sets in the west in Pisces the Fishes, at 3:58 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, with a disk 2.3 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Neptune sets at 1:03 a.m., PST. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23^h 52^m 06^s and declination -2° 17ʹ 14ʺ. Neptune continues its slow retrograde motion. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s disk.

New moon occurs on the 1^st, first quarter on the 8^th, full moon on the 15^th, last quarter on the 22^nd, and new moon again on the 30^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 3, at 2:00 a.m. All clocks must be set back one hour, according to the saying, “Spring forward, fall back.”

Comet C/2023 A3 ( Tsuchinshan-ATLAS ) is visible in the evening sky. In November, it will have faded, and binoculars will be needed to see it.  On the 1^st, the comet sets in the west in Ophiuchus the Serpent Bearer, at 10:24 p.m. PDT, three hours 20 minutes after the sun sets. On the 10^th, the comet crosses into Serpens Cauda the Serpent. On the 24^th, it crosses into Aquila the Eagle. On the 30^th, the comet sets in the west at 8:30 p.m., PST, and will be 13 arcminutes north of the open star cluster NGC-6755, and might be of a similar overall brightness.

The coordinates for November are posted on our web page.

Date                Right Ascension      Declination

11/01              18^h 00^m 46^s                +03° 43ʹ 34ʺ

 11/11             18^h 33^m 37^s                +03° 59ʹ 19ʺ

 11/21             18^h 53^m 53^s                +04° 12ʹ 28ʺ

 11/30             19^h 07^m 34^s                +04° 29ʹ 12ʺ

The Leonid meteor shower peaks from the evening of the 17^th through to the morning of 18^th. The Leonids usually produce ten to 20 meteors per hour with many bright meteors. The moon rises in the late evening sky, 94-percent illuminated, and will interfere with observation this year.

The Northern Taurid meteor shower peaks from the evening of the 11^th to the morning of the 12^th. The moon rises in the late evening sky, 79-percent full, and will interfere with observation. The Northern Taurids might produce ten to 20 meteors per hour, with occasional fireballs

The Southern Taurid meteor shower peaks from the evening of the 4^th through to the morning of the 5^th. The moon will be in the evening sky as a thin crescent, 11-percent full, and will not interfere with observations. The Southern Taurids rarely produce more than five meteors per hour, but many are bright fireballs.

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