Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday November 2nd through Sunday November 8th.

The moon was at last quarter late on Sunday the 1st and will reach new early on Monday November 9th, so we’ll have a waning crescent moon in the early morning skies all week.

Mercury is in inferior conjunction with the Sun on Wednesday when it will pass between the Earth and the Sun and move from our evening skies into our morning skies.

Saturn is now the sole naked eye planet visible in the early evening, and it is visible in the east-southeast as the sky darkens after sunset. Saturn is setting at 4:15 a.m. at midweek.

Mars is rising at 12:25 a.m. at midweek, with Jupiter following just 20 minutes later as the two planets continue to converge. Look for the waning crescent moon rising below the pair on Tuesday morning.

A very thin crescent Venus is rising at 5:25 a.m. at midweek and will be alongside the very thin crescent moon on Saturday morning.

In space anniversaries this week, Saturday November 7th marks 30 years since the launch of the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, which arrived in orbit at the Red Planet in September 1997. The spacecraft mapped the entire planet, completing its primary mission in 2001, and continued to operate until it went into safe mode, and the mission was ended in early 2007. Mars Global Surveyor remains in Martian orbit, but it is expected to eventually crash into the planet’s surface around 2050.

Public viewing at the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building is on Wednesday nights this week from 7:30 to 9:30 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. Viewing times will return to 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. next week.

Public viewing at the 9-inch refractor at Painter Hall is on Friday and Saturday nights now from 7 to 9 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.

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.