texas

skywatchers report


Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday October 30th through Sunday November 5th.

The full moon for the month of November is late on the night of Friday the 3rd so we'll have a waxing gibbous moon for most of the week and a waning gibbous moon for the weekend. The full moon for the month of November is known as the Hunter's Moon, the Frost Moon, and the Snow Moon.

Mercury is low in the west after sunset and is setting about an hour after the sun this week.

Saturn is low in the southwest at sunset and is setting at 9:25 p.m. so time is running out to catch the ringed planet in the evening skies this year.

The remaining planets visible to the unaided eye are now up in the morning skies. Mars is rising at 5:10 a.m., now about two and a half hours before sunrise. Venus is rising at 6:30 a.m., about an hour and 15 minutes before sunrise. Jupiter is just emerging from conjunction in the morning skies and is lost in the sun's glare.

2:00 a.m. Sunday November 5th morning marks the return to Standard Time for the parts of the US that went on to Daylight Saving Time back in March. 2:00 to 3:00 a.m. Sunday is the hour that is officially repeated.

Public viewing at the 16-inch reflector on top of Robert Lee Moore Hall is on Wednesday nights this week from 8 to 10 p.m. RLM 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 this week 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. Please note that there will be no Painter Telescope viewing on Saturday evenings when the UT football team has a night home game. Logon to TexasSports.com to check the football schedule.

Please note that next week all star parties times will change to 7 to 9 p.m. for the remainder of the year.

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 weather cancellation information, which is updated 30 to 45 minutes before the scheduled viewing start time.

Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.