November 8, 2024: Through the end of the year, see Mars with the Beehive star cluster through a binocular. Venus moves eastward appearing in front of Sagittarius.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 6:32 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:36 p.m. CST. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
Morning Sky
Mars Approaches Beehive
Mars appears in the same binocular field with the Beehive star cluster through the end of the year. Moving eastward in front of Cancer, to the lower left of Gemini’s Pollux, the Red Planet appears closer to the star cluster each morning until the planet begins to retrograde on December 6th. Here is how to find the scene:
Find Jupiter
One hour before sunrise, find bright Jupiter less than halfway up in the west. It retrogrades between the Bull’s horns, Elnath and Zeta Tauri, and above Aldebaran, the constellation’s brightest star.
Mars near Pollux
Gemini is the next constellation east of Taurus. The Twins, Castor and Pollux, are high in the southwestern sky. Mars, now brightening as Earth approaches, is over 9° to Pollux’s lower left. The planet, distinctly reddish, is only dimmer than Jupiter and Sirius.
Mars, Beehive through Binocular
Mars crossed in front of Cancer about a week ago. This morning, the planet is visible in the same binocular field with the Beehive star cluster, a stellar bundle with a few hundred stars that is nearly 600 light years away. Nearly the size of three Full moons, the cluster is visible at a location free from outdoor lighting without optical assistance.
The stars Asellus Borealis, Eta Cancri (η Cnc on the chart), and Theta Cancri (θ Cnc) are in the binocular’s field of view. As the planet moves eastward, Asellus Australis fits into the field as well.
Evening Sky
Mercury sets 53 minutes after the sun, while still in bright evening twilight.
Venus with Sagittarius
Brilliant Venus moves from Ophiuchus to Sagittarius tonight. The Archer’s brightest stars resemble a Teapot. During evening twilight, use a binocular to watch it move past the pattern’s stars.
On the evenings of the 16th and 17, watch it approach and pass Kaus Borealis (λ Sgr on the chart).
Saturn and Moon
This evening the nearly half-full moon is in the south after sunset. It reaches the First Quarter phase a few minutes before midnight Central Time. The lunar orb is approaching Saturn, nearly 30° to the moon’s left.
The Ringed Wonder is over one-third of the way from the southeast horizon to overhead. It retrogrades in front of Aquarius. Its westward trek is slowing as it resumes direct motion on the 16th.
Venus, Jupiter Simultaneously
Jupiter rises in the east-northeast 106 minutes after nightfall and Venus sets 22 minutes later. Skywatchers with clear horizons toward these worlds can see them simultaneously. The window of visibility widens each night. By month’s end, the viewing window’s length is over two hours. By then, the two planets are easily visible simultaneously with Jupiter in the east and Venus toward the southwest.
Mars Rises Later
Mars rises over three hours after Jupiter. As the calendar day ends, the Red Planet is over 20° above the east horizon, while Jupiter is over halfway up in the east-southeast. By this time, Saturn is about 15° up in the west-southwest.
As morning twilight begins tomorrow, Jupiter and Mars are near the same positions they were this morning. Mars is farther eastward and closer to the Beehive.
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