texas

skywatchers report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report for November 24th through the 30th.

The new moon for the month of November was late on Sunday night. Antarctica was treated to a total solar eclipse, which was broadcast by a Japanese team over the internet. Check www.live-eclipse.org for archived footage of the event.

Tuesday evening look low in the west shortly after sundown for a nice pairing of a very slim crescent moon and a brilliant Venus. The moon will be at first quarter on Sunday the 30th.

Saturn is rising at about 8 p.m. this week and is visible to the left of Orion. Mars is still visible, crossing the line from due north to due south at around 7:30 p.m and setting in the west at about 1 a.m.

The sunspots that were visible to the naked eye last month and produced large solar flares have rotated back into view and are once again producing some interesting space weather. Auroras were visible as far south as Florida and Texas when a coronal mass ejection swept past the earth last week. Stay tuned to www.spaceweather.com for news of any additional solar activity.

For more skywatching tips for the week check out stardate.org

There will be no viewing on UT campus telescopes this week due to the Thanksgiving Holiday.

RLM Wednesday night viewing and Friday and Saturday viewing at Painter Hall will be held next week. Those will be the final viewing nights for the fall semester. Viewing will resume in January with the start of the University's spring semester.

Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers' Report and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday weekend.