A 2.5 percent waning gibbous moon illuminated by earthshine rises behind the Empire State Building … [+]
Each Monday I pick out the northern hemisphere’s celestial highlights (mid-northern latitudes) for the week ahead, but be sure to check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
What To See In The Night Sky This Week: November 21-27, 2022
This week features a New Moon, which means two things—it’s a great week for both stargazing and, slightly beforehand, crescent Moon-watching. One of the most difficult observations in stargazing comes on Thursday when you get your first chance to spot a barely-lit limb of the crescent Moon. Slightly easier on Friday, and a relatively simple thing to see on Saturday when the crescent Moon has risen slightly higher come Sun-down, the sight of a crescent Moon is surely one of the most beautiful sights in nature.
Monday, November 21, 2022: Crescent Moon near Spica
Before sunrise this morning in the eastern sky an 8%-lit waning gibbous Moon—a crescent Moon—will rise alongside Spica, the bright star of the constellation Virgo. Red supergiant star Arcturus in the constellation Bootes will be to the Moon’s upper left as it rises.
Emperor penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, adults and chicks, Cape Roget colony, Ross Sea, Antarctica. … [+]
Wednesday, November 23, 2022: A New Moon occults Mercury … for penguins
A waxing crescent Moon—barely 1% lit and almost impossible to see—will occult the tiny planet Mercury, but it will only be visible from Antarctica.
A crescent Moon also means completely dark, moonless skies during the night. That makes this week and excellent time to go stargazing.
Crescent moon appears over Camlica Mosque and Galata Tower in Istanbul, Turkey on June 06, 2021. … [+]
Friday, November 25, 2022: A crescent Moon
A 5%-lit slim crescent Moon will be visible in the western sky just after sunset in the constellation of Sagittarius, but will sink soon after. You’ll need a low western horizon to do so (and maybe a pair of binoculars to scan the still-bright twilight sky).
Saturday, November 26, 2022: A crescent Moon and ‘Earthshine’
A now 12%-lit crescent Moon will again be visible in the western sky right after the Sun has set. It will be visible for a little longer, and shine a little brighter, than last night. Put a pair of binoculars on its un-lit portion and you’ll see “Earthshine”—sunlight reflected off the Earth on to the lunar surface.
The 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon on April 8, 2019 in a blend of short and long exposures to bring … [+]
Object of the week: Earthshine
Look upon the darkened limb of the crescent Moon and you’ll be able to see Earthshine. Sunlight that’s reflected from the Earth and on to the Moon, it’s always there, but only possible to detect when the crescent Moon is slim. Twilight on Friday through Saturday are the best times to see it this month. Use any pair of binoculars and you’ll get a superb view.
Times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information consult online planetariums like Stellarium and The Sky Live. Check planet-rise/planet-set, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset times for where you are.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
