Jupiter is high

Jupiter is high (well, relatively – a little under 50 degrees) in the sky at nightfall and remains the undisputed ruler of our fall sky. The South Equatorial Belt remains very faint, making for an interesting and unusual view, in addition to all the usual storms, festoons, moons and moon and shadow transits that make the giant planet so interesting.

Uranus, too, is well placed for observing, still only a few degrees away from Jupiter. That makes it much easier than usual to find, so don’t forget to take a look at the dim green world when you’re done studying Jupiter.

Neptune is a little tougher – it’s transiting around nightfall in eastern Capricornus, only 40 degrees up at its highest and sinking fast as the evening progresses, so catch it while you still can.

Mercury is back in the evening sky, along with Mars, which sits near its rival Antares. The two planets pass within a couple of degrees of each other on the 21st – not close enough for a telescope field, but they should make a nice naked-eye or binocular view early on a full moon evening. Pluto, too, is in the evening twilight sky, but you aren’t likely to catch it there; better to wait a few months.

Venus and Saturn both move into the morning sky this month.

Daylight Savings Time ends on November 7. Remember to set your clocks back an hour!