Autumn is in full swing right now: Leaves are falling off trees, pumpkin-flavored treats are everywhere, and Turkey Day is coming up. The night sky will also be treating us to some amazing celestial sights that you don’t want to miss.
Over the next few weeks, the night sky will be embracing November with some key events, including Mercury directly “cutting in front of” the sun and the appearance of Algol, which is located in the constellation Perseus, according to NASA. It also always helps to have a skywatching app, an auto-guided telescope, and a good pair of binoculars to take in night sky views all month long.
Mercury Transits the Sun
Mercury transits the sun on Nov. 11. (Photo Credit: NASA / JPL – Caltech)
Mark your calendars for Nov. 11: Mercury, the innermost planet, will pass directly in front of the sun for three to five hours. This event, which is also known as a transit, is so rare for Mercury that it only happens roughly 13 times in 100 years. (The next event isn’t happening until 2049!)
Here’s how it will go down: The planet’s path will take it right across the middle of the sun’s enormous disk at different times. Skywatchers in the Eastern U.S. will want to catch the transit right after sunrise, so they’ll be able to see the entire sight. Central and Western U.S. skywatchers will have to scout a spot outside before sunrise, however, there will be plenty of time to catch a view before the sun goes up in the sky.
Pro tip: You should never look directly at the sun. NASA suggests using a telescope with a certified sun filter, solar projection boxes, and sun funnels to protect your eyes. If those are not an option for you, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft will be capturing near real-time images of the transit that you can see instead.
The “Demon Star” Rises
Look north at 8 p.m. on Nov. 22 to spot Algol in the night sky. (Photo Credit: NASA / JPL – Caltech)
Algol, also known as the “Demon Star,” will conduct its regular dimming and brightening routine on Nov. 22.
What’s cool about this celestial treat is that it’s two stars orbiting each other and from our perspective, it looks like the smaller star frequently passes in front of the larger, brighter one, causing it to decrease in brightness for roughly 10 hours at a time. And, this strange phenomenon occurs very regularly: Every two days, 20 hours, 49 minutes, according to NASA.
To see one of Algol’s eclipses, find the date and time of a predicted “minima,” (check out astronomy websites, like RASC Calgary Centre, for help) and direct your attention to the night sky roughly an hour or two before that time. Use binoculars about every half hour, and over a few hours, Algol will slowly go back to its normal state. Plus, it helps to use other nearby stars, such as Almach and Gorgonea Tertia, as reference points.
For more November celestial highlights, visit NASA’s November Moon Phases page.
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