2023, November 11: Moon, Spica Conjunction, Mars Nears Conjunction

November 11, 2023: This morning the thin crescent moon is near Spica. Mars nears its solar conjunction.

Moon and Spica, December 10, 2020
Photo Caption – 2020, December 10: The moon is to the upper left of Spica.

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by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:35 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:34 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

Vista From Mars Rover Looks Back Over Journey So Far Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars A viewpoint on "Vera Rubin Ridge" provided NASA's Curiosity Mars rover this detailed look back over the area where it began its mission inside Gale Crater, plus more-distant features of the crater. The right-eye, telephoto-lens camera of the rover's Mastcam took the component images Oct. 25, 2017. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
Vista From Mars Rover Looks Back Over Journey So Far Vera Rubin Ridge on Mars A viewpoint on “Vera Rubin Ridge” provided NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover this detailed look back over the area where it began its mission inside Gale Crater, plus more-distant features of the crater. The right-eye, telephoto-lens camera of the rover’s Mastcam took the component images Oct. 25, 2017. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

As Mars moves toward its conjunction with the sun, NASA suspends operational commands to the spacecraft exploring the Red Planet.  The sun’s electromagnetic effects can affect critical signals that are sent to the robot explorers.  Some scientific data is transmitted, while other information is recorded for later broadcast to Earth.

This animation illustrates Mars solar conjunction, a period when Mars is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth. During this time, the Sun can interrupt radio transmissions to spacecraft on and around the Red Planet. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
This animation illustrates Mars solar conjunction, a period when Mars is on the opposite side of the Sun from Earth. During this time, the Sun can interrupt radio transmissions to spacecraft on and around the Red Planet. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The solar conjunction occurs November 17th.  NASA’s Mars hiatus starts today and runs through the 25th.

Today the planet sets six minutes after the sun and it is not visible because to the central star’s glare.

Summaries of Current Sky Events
Summary for Venus as a Morning Star, 2023-24

Here is today’s planet forecast:

Morning Sky

2023, November 11: Venus, crescent moon, and Spica are in the east-southeast during morning twilight.
Chart Caption – 2023, November 11: Venus, crescent moon, and Spica are in the east-southeast during morning twilight.

An hour before sunrise, brilliant Venus is 30° up in the east-southeast.  It is heading toward Spica, over 20° to the lower left.  The star is 10° above the horizon.

2023, November 11: The razor-thin crescent moon and Spica appear through a binocular.
Chart Caption – 2023, November 11: The razor-thin crescent moon and Spica appear through a binocular.

The crescent moon, 4% illuminated, is 3.6° to the lower left of Spica, Virgo’s brightest star. Find a clear horizon and use a binocular to see the razor-thin moon with the star.

Jupiter is very low in the west-northwest at this hour.

Evening Sky

Mercury as Never Seen Before
Photo Caption – Mercury as Never Seen Before. (NASA photo)

Mercury is moving toward greatest elongation.  It sets over thirty minutes after the sun and it is not easily visible.

2023, November 11: Saturn is in the south-southeast after nightfall.
Chart Caption – 2023, November 11: Saturn is in the south-southeast after nightfall.

An hour after sundown, Saturn is in the south-southeast, over 30° above the horizon. Saturn is not as bright as Venus or Jupiter, but it outshines most stars tonight.  The star Fomalhaut, dimmer than Saturn, is about 20° to the lower left of the Ringed Wonder.

Saturn is crawling eastward in front of Aquarius, 6.7° to the upper left of Deneb Algedi, Capricornus’ tail.  It is heading eastward in the general direction of Skat, meaning “the leg,” and Lambda Aquarii (λ Aqr on the chart). Use a binocular to see the dimmer stars, especially in areas with outdoor lighting.

2023, November 11: An hour after sundown, Jupiter is above the eastern horizon.
Chart Caption – 2023, November 11: An hour after sundown, Jupiter is above the eastern horizon.

Bright Jupiter is farther eastward at this hour, over 15° above the horizon.  It is 11.4° to the lower right of Hamal, Aries’ brightest star.  The planet is retrograding against the stars.

During the night, Jupiter and Saturn are farther westward.  The Ringed Wonder is south around two hours after sunset and it sets around midnight.  Jupiter is south about midnight and it sets in the west-northwest nearly 50 minutes before daybreak.

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