texas

skywatchers report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report for November 14th through the 20th.

The full moon for the month of November will be late on Tuesday night. The full moon for the month of November is called the Frosty Moon and the Beaver Moon.

The moon and Mars will team up for a nice pairing in the eastern skies on Monday the 14th. The moon will be above the Pleiades star cluster, commonly known as the Seven Sisters, on Tuesday and below the cluster on Wednesday.

The Leonids, probably the best known meteor shower to occur each year, is due to peak on the 17th which unfortunately just one day after the full moon. The activity of this shower has decreased from the storms of a few years ago to a more moderate 20 or so meteors an hour. Because of the moonlight, the meteors will be difficult to see. If you do choose to look for them, wait until about 2 am in the morning on the 18th after Leo is fully above the horizon. The meteors will appear to come from a point in the question mark shaped top of the constellation.

Wednesday night viewing on the Robert Lee Moore Hall will be delayed at least one more week due to continuing construction. We hope to be able to offer a couple of open nights before the end of the semester, so please keep checking this recording for updates each week.

The Painter Hall telescope is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe.

There will be no public viewing next week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

All events are free and open to all ages and no reservations are required. Note that star party times and availability change throughout the year. Please call this recording before planning a visit to the telescopes. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 232-4265 for weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 60 minutes before viewing start time only on nights when star parties are cancelled.

Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report.