Mercury -visible in the morning sky during November. Look for it 10 degrees up in the ESE a half hour before sunrise during the first half of the month. Mercury will be 0 to -0.8 magnitude during this time.

Venus - visible in the morning sky during November. Look for it 35 to 40 degrees up in the east at sunrise during the month. Venus will be magnitude -4.4. Through a telescope, the planet will appear half-lit early in the month and gibbous by month's end, with an apparent diameter that decreases from 23 to 18 arc-seconds.

Mars - located in Gemini during November. The "red" planet rises at 10 pm EDT early in the month and at 7 pm EST by month's end. Mars will be 73 degrees up in the south by 3:30 am EST at mid-month. The planet will brighten from magnitude -0.6 to -1.3 and have an apparent diameter that increases from 12 to 15 arc-seconds during the month. This is large enough to see the major surface features in a 4" telescope. The dust storms that occurred during July have subsided enough that the surface of the planet is becoming visible again. Mars will have a diameter of 16 arc-seconds when it reaches opposition in December.

Jupiter - located in Ophiuchus. The "King" of the planets can be seen low in the SW just after sunset. Look for it 10 to 15 degrees above the horizon. Jupiter will be magnitude -1.9 with an apparent diameter of 33 arc-seconds.

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

Saturn - located in Leo. The ringed planet rises by 3 am EDT early in the month and by 12 am EST at month's end. Saturn reaches the meridian by sunrise at mid-month, when it will be 58 degrees above the horizon. Saturn will be magnitude 0.7 during November with an apparent diameter of 18 arc-seconds. The rings will be 38 arc-seconds across and tilted 7 degrees to our line-of-sight. At least 6 of Saturn's many moons are bright enough to be seen with an 8" scope.

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 42 degrees up in the south around 8 pm EST at mid-month. Uranus will be magnitude 5.8 and can be glimpsed with the naked eye from a dark site. Through a telescope, the planet will have a tiny 3.6 arc-second pale green disc. A finder chart for Uranus can be found in the July Sky & Telescope, page 60. The moons of Uranus will be undergoing mutual events where they eclipse or occult each other. Some of these occur this month.

A finder chart for Uranus can be found Here.

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 2.3" pale blue disc.

A finder chart for Neptune can be found Here.

Pluto - is too low in the southwest, and in the sun's bright dusk light, to be seen this month.

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.

For detailed information please visit Astronomical Delights

Comet 17P/Holmes - experienced an outburst on October 24, brightening from magnitude 16 to 2.5. The comet appeared almost star-like at first, but has been expanding daily and is at least 13' in diameter as of early November. Its apparent diameter should become larger than the Moon's as the coma dissipates. The comet is moving slowly through Perseus, near Alpha Persei. It will pass only 17' from this star on the evening of November 19. This comet was discovered in 1892 when it had a similar outburst. That year, it also underwent a second outburst. Observers should continue to follow this comet long after the current outburst is over.

The Leonid Meteor Shower - peaks on the morning of November 18. About 10 Leonids can be seen every hour radiating from an area near the sickle of Leo. The 1st quarter Moon sets around 12 am and will not interfere with meteor watching. The best times to watch are from 1 2 am till dawn. Face east or south for the best view.