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NOVEMBER PROGRAMS
JUPITER 2019 (with the latest science from the Juno probe orbiting the solar system’s largest planet, which will be leaving our evening sky this month); RING WORLD (about Saturn, now the top planetary attraction in the night sky); EARTH’S NEAREST NEIGHBOR (when the moon is visible); THE AUTUMN CONSTELLATIONS when the moon is not in the sky blotting out all but the brightest stars. NOTE: THE OBSERVATORY WILL BE CLOSED NOVEMBER 30 ON THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.
Your Window on the Universe
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Our Telescopes
Featuring views of the night skies through our 3 Telescopes!
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Presentations & Programs
Astronomy Presentations every Saturday Night!
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It's all FREE
There is NO ADMISSION CHARGE
HOURS
We’re open every Saturday year-round.
Hyde may be closed if Saturday falls on or very near a major holiday. If in doubt call first: (402) 441-7094.
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March 15-August 31
Sundown to 11 PM
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September 1-30
8 PM to 11 PM
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October 1-March 14
7 PM to 10 PM
OBJECTS IN THE SKY FOR NOVEMBER
Solar System Objects
Jupiter is in the sky early in the evening during November, but it is getting lower in the southwest as the month progresses. Saturn is in the constellation Sagittarius and in the southern sky all evening long. It is almost twice as far away from us as Jupiter, so much smaller and dimmer. Saturn’s rings are open about as wide as we ever see them from Earth, and at least one of its moons — Titan, the largest — is usually visible.
The Moon
Lunar phases this month: Saturday, November 2 is just after New Moon (October 31), so we will see a thin crescent in the west. November 9 is between First Quarter and Full Moon, so the moon will be about 3/4 illuminated, with a good solid terminator (shadow line) to emphasize surface features. A good night for moon viewing. On November 16, the moon rises at 8:42 p.m. and has passed Full phase. On the 23rd, it rises after the observatory closes, and is a crescent before dawn in the morning sky. It is a crescent 4 days after New phase in the west after sunset on November 30, but the Observatory will be closed on that date for Thanksgiving.
Deep Sky Objects
Deep Sky Objects are those beyond the solar system: galaxies, nebulae and stars. Our visual guides to these objects are the constellations. The autumn constellations are now beginning to dominate the evening sky: the winged horse Perseus and princess Andromeda (containing our sister galaxy, M31) are rising in the east while the summer triangle, the stars Deneb, Altair and Vega slowly slide towards the western horizon. Waiting in the wings, just below the Eastern horizon, are the bright stars and constellations of winter: Orion and the Big Dog, Sirius, which rises after midnight this month.