November Sky Guide
RARE Transit of Mercury Across the Sun
On Monday the 11th of November mercury will transit across the sun. This starts about 12:30 in the afternoon and goes on until sunset. The next time this incredibly rare event happens will be the year 2039. Of course, it’s DANGEROUS TO LOOK AT THE SUN unless you have special equipment, but we have 2 solar telescope which are especially designed to allow safe viewing of the sun!
So if you want to join us and view this wonderful event, (weather permitting), click on the link below.
https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory/events/special/1434
Planets on Show
Saturn is still visible just after sunset for the rest of the month but will become harder to see nearer the end of the month. On the other hand, Venus is becoming brighter in the evening as the month nears its end. Uranus and Neptune are the best planets on display in November, but you do need a telescope to see them, why not visit us and catch a glimpse of these incredibly distant, cold, giant planets?
Dark Sky Discovery
The New Moon is on the 26th of November which means that the darkest skies are in the first and last weeks of the month – have a look at our calendar for November and book a ticket onto a “dark sky discovery” night if you want a chance to spot the milky way and thousands of stars! https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory/calendar/2019/november
Shooting Star Suppers
There are two meteor showers this month and both are average showers, meaning you’re likely to see a few shooting stars on the night, (weather permitting), but the Taurids are famous for big bolide fireballs, often streaking across most of the sky and leaving great big smoke trails! If you fancy some posh nosh in an award-winning restaurant, followed by a night at the observatory then these vents are for you. https://www.battlesteads.com/observatory/events/food-under-the-stars/shooting-star-supper/1319
The Moon
Full moon this month is on the 12th. It is known by native Americans as the Full Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the rivers froze. It is known as the Frosty Moon and the Hunter’s Moon. Our Moonwatch events are becoming quite famous as guests use their smartphones to take pictures of the moon through our telescopes, just like the one below.
