Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday October 27th through Sunday November 2nd.
The moon is at first quarter on Wednesday the 29th so we’ll start the week with a waxing crescent moon and finish the week with a waxing gibbous moon.
Mars is still low in the west-southwest at sunset and is setting at 7:45 p.m., an hour after sunset.
Mercury is at greatest elongation east on Wednesday night and then will start sinking back towards the sun and its next solar conjunction. Mercury is setting at 7:50 p.m. at midweek.
Saturn is up in the southeast at sunset and is setting at 4:35 a.m. Look for Saturn below the moon on Saturday night.
Jupiter is rising at 11:45 p.m. and is still near the stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini.
Venus is rising 75 minutes before the sun and can be seen in the dawn twilight.
Daylight saving time ends early on the morning of Sunday November 2 when we will repeat the 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. hour and return to Standard Time.
In space anniversaries this week, Sunday November 2nd marks 25 years since the Expedition One crew arrived at the International Space Station and started the unbroken streak of human occupation of the station that continues to today. Websites and apps are available to notify you when you can see the station in orbit as it passes over your location shortly after sunset or shortly before sunrise. The ISS is expected to remain in orbit until the 2030s.
Public viewing at the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building is on Wednesday nights currently from 8 to 10 p.m. PMA is located on the southeast corner of Dean Keeton and Speedway. Take the elevator to the 17th floor and follow the signs to the telescope.
Public viewing at the 9-inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday nights currently from 8 to 10 p.m. Painter Hall is located on 24th street about halfway between Speedway and Guadalupe and is northeast of the UT Tower. Take the elevator to the 5th floor then take the stairs up to the 6th floor and follow the signs up to the telescope.
Starting next week, all campus public viewing times will move to 7 to 9 p.m. after the return to standard time this weekend.
All events are free and open to all ages, and no reservations are required. Note that viewing times and availability change throughout the year so please check the schedule before planning a visit. Observing events are weather permitting. Please call 512-232-4265 for star party status information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start times.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
