Mercury, the fleeting planet, moves from in front of the sun

The moon is four days away from new phase as the month opens, and three days away from an occultation of Mercury, visible from most of Canada, except it’s in the daylight, so a tough observation. Seek a professional or an experienced observer for help locating Mercury and the moon in the daytime sky at about 1 p.m. CST Nov. 3. A partial eclipse occurs Nov. 19, beginning shortly after midnight and lasting until sunrise, as the moon slides through Earth’s penumbral shadow. Of course, the moon must be at full phase for a lunar eclipse to occur.

Mercury lives up to its reputation as the fleeting planet, sliding away from in front of the sun in the morning sky, then occulted by the moon Nov. 3. After that, Mercury becomes less and less visible, closing in on superior conjunction Nov. 29.

Venus is gliding eastward during the month through the stars of Sagittarius, right at the centre of the Milky Way Galaxy. If you didn’t know where the centre was, the bright planet points the way. Nov. 7, the three-day-old moon passes Venus, just a sliver of light against the starry evening backdrop. The two bodies are so close together here, but are even closer in the Eastern Hemisphere – an occultation, where the moon passes in front of the planet.

Mars is too close behind the sun to be visible. Possibly late in the month, in the early morning eastern sky, one might catch a glimpse of the ruddy planet.

Jupiter is bright in the southern sky at sundown, joined in a line with Venus at the horizon, then Saturn to its east, with Jupiter even further east. All three planets quickly follow the sun, so fade from view early in the evening. The ecliptic angle favours Southern Hemisphere observers at this time of year, presenting fleeting opportunities to view the giant planet and its Galilean moons. Watch for the first-quarter moon Nov. 11 as it joins the planetary scene.

Saturn is much the same as Jupiter, except falling earlier below the horizon. The crescent moon passes by Nov. 10.

Uranus rises in the east at sundown, is directly south at midnight (opposition) and sets in the morning at sunrise. The waxing gibbous moon is 1.5 degrees to the blue-green planet’s south Nov. 17.

Neptune, seemingly stationary against the stars of Aquarius, is a telescopic target only. However, an observer with a medium- to high-powered scope can see five planets (six, if he or she counts the one they’re standing on) in the early days of November, from west to east, Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus.

Daylight Saving Time ends on Nov. 7.

James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he was recently awarded a Fellowship of the RASC.