Mercury - is in Libra, magnitude +1.3, reaches perihelion (closest to the Sun) on the 13th, and greatest western elongation (20°) on the 25th.

On the 8th, there is a transit of Mercury (passes across the Sun's disc). It will be visible from Americas, the Pacific, eastern Asia, Australia & New Zealand. Only New Zealand, the Pacific and the extreme Western USA will see the entire transit. The transit starts at 19:12 UT, and ends at 00:18 UT on the 9th. The next transit will be on 9th May 2016 at 14:57 UT.

For more information please visit SkyTonight.com

Later in the month, after the 21st, Mercury becomes a morning object, visible about an hour before dawn. It is visible to the naked eye and should be observable until the end of the month.

Venus - Is in Libra, magnitude of -3.9. Venus reappears in the evening sky this month, but is not suitable for observation this month because of its low elevation, it is lost in the evening twilight.

Mars - At conjunction last month, Mars stays close to the Sun and is difficult if not impossible to view this month.

Jupiter - The largest planet in the solar system reaches conjunction on 21 November and is lost in the solar glare this month. It re-emerges as a morning sky object next month.

For detailed postions of Jupiter's Moons try this interactive javascript utility.

Saturn - This is an excellent time to view Saturn and its rings through a telescope. Quadrature enhances interesting disc and ring shadow interplay and Saturn reaches west quadrature on 17 November.

The Cassini spacecraft continues its observation of Saturn and its many moons and rings. For the latest images from Cassini, see:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

For detailed postions of Saturn's Moons try this interactive javascript utility.

Uranus - located in Aquarius. Look for it 40 degrees up in the south around 8 pm EST at mid-month. Uranus will be less than 1 degree SW of 3rd magnitude Lamba Aqr for most of November. At magnitude 5.8, Uranus can be glimpsed with the naked eye from a moderately dark site. Through a telescope, Uranus has a 3.5" greenish disc.

A finder chart for Uranus can be found on page 66 of the May issue of Sky & Telescope.

Neptune - located in Capricornus. Look for it 33 degrees up in the south around 6 pm EST at mid-month. At magnitude 7.9, Neptune can be seen with binoculars but a telescope is needed to see its 2.2" pale blue disc.

A finder chart for Neptune can be found on page 66 of the May issue of Sky & Telescope.

Pluto - is located in Serpens this month, having been sent down to the "minor leagues" on August 24. This "dwarf planet" will be due south around sunset and 33 degrees above the horizon. At magnitude 13.9, a 6 inch scope or larger will be needed to see Pluto.

A finder chart for Pluto can be found on page 66 of the May issue of Sky & Telescope.

Eris (pronounced "EE-ris") - formerly known as Xena, 2003 UB313, and "the tenth planet"  is magnitude 19 in central Cetus, high in the south during evening.

Comet C/2006 M4 (SWAN) - can be seen in the evening sky moving through Hercules and Aquila. Currently near its peak brightness, 5th or 6th magnitude, this comet will slowly fade to 7th magnitude by late November.

Look about 20 to 25 degrees up in the west near the end of twilight. The comet will pass 2 degrees south of Altair near the end of the month. A faint tail up to 5 degrees long has been seen by some observers.

Leonids meteor shower - The Leonids is one of the better meteor showers to observe, producing an average of 40 meteors per hour at their peak. The shower itself has a cyclic peak year every 33 years where hundreds of meteors can be seen each hour. The last of these showers occurred in 2001.

The shower peaks this year on November 17, there is a chance for a short outburst of Leonids around 11:45 pm EST on November 18. Rates of up to 100/hour may be seen for a half-hour or so.. The nearly-new moon should not be a problem this year for the Leonids. Even the faintest meteors should be visible this year. Look for the shower radiating from the constellation Leo after midnight.

The best times to watch are from 12 am till dawn. Face east or south for the best view. The Leonids are debris shed by Comet 55P/Temple-Tuttle which was last visible in 1998.