November 2024: Find Venus in the southwest sky after sundown. The planet outshines all other stars tonight. Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars join a nightly planet parade with Venus at mid-month.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus in Southwest
Step outside during evening twilight. Brilliant Venus gleams from the southwest.
The Venus-Jupiter opposition occurs on the 3rd. Jupiter rises as Venus sets. During the following nights Venus is in the western sky as Jupiter is in the east. Jupiter joins Saturn with Venus.
During November, Venus appears higher in the sky. It gains 64 minutes of setting time compared to sunset, brightening about 10% during the month.
Venus, Moon
As the moon passes through the New phase on the 1st, it begins a another lunation with its appearance in the western evening sky. On November 4th, while still in front of Ophiuchus, the crescent moon is 3.9° to the lower left of the Evening Star. At 45 minutes after nightfall, Venus is about 10° above the southwest horizon.
Venus, Sagittarius
Beginning on the 8th, Venus moves from Ophiuchus to the backdrop of Sagittarius’ brightest stars, known as the Teapot. The constellation enters bright evening twilight during the month. Use a binocular to spot Venus against the star field.
Venus’ visibility is still affected by the low angle the ecliptic makes with the western horizon. Around midmonth, it sets at the end of twilight and the planet’s viewing becomes easier with the planet appearing higher in the sky after sunset.
Venus, Mercury
On the 16th, Venus passes 0.5° from Lambda Sagittarii (λ Sgr), commonly named Kaus Borealis, meaning the “northern part of the bow,” at the top of the Teapot’s lid. Mercury is at its greatest elongation. Look for it with a binocular earlier during twilight.
Tonight, all five planets appear, but not simultaneously. Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible during evening twilight. Jupiter rises 20 minutes after Mercury sets, followed by Mars over three hours later.
Venus Passes Nunki
Six nights later Venus passes 1.2° from Sigma Sagittarii (σ Sgr), also known as Nunki. At 45 minutes after nightfall, the brilliant planet is nearly 15° above the southwest horizon. Mercury is visible, but look for it earlier through a binocular.
As the month ends, Venus is over 15° above the west-southwest horizon during mid-twilight.
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