SkyTips: November 2013
from the McDonald Observatory in West Texas
A comet that's caused a lot of excitement is racing toward a close encounter with the Sun on Thanksgiving Day. That could make the comet easily visible to the unaided eye for a few weeks after the encounter.
Stargazing Summary
One of the most popular stories from ancient mythology is told in a group of constellations that highlight November's sky. Andromeda, the princess, was rescued by Perseus from the sea monster Cetus. She had been chained at the edge of the sea on orders from her father, king Cepheus, after her mother, Cassiopeia, angered the gods with her vanity. These five characters stretch from north to southeast in the evening sky.
More stargazing information »
More stargazing information »
Radio Program Highlights
If you want to start hearing the StarDate program in your area, you can request a station to carry our program by emailing the request to stations@stardate.org.
November 4-10: Distant Vision. The farthest object that's easily visible to the unaided eye is in good view on November evenings — the Andromeda galaxy, which is two-and-a-half million light-years away. Join us for more on this beautiful neighbor.
November 11-17: Cold Astronomy. Antarctica is a great site for studying the universe. Instrument-carrying balloons can stay aloft for weeks, winter provides dark skies for ground-based telescopes, and the solar system even drops some crumbs on the ice.
November 18-24: Busy Evenings. The Moon passes by some bright lights in the evening sky this week, from the eye of the bull to the giant of the solar system. And a supergiant is returning to evening skies as well. Join us for more on some busy evening skies.
November 25-December 1: Moon Meanderings. The Moon passes a passel of bright stars and planets this week, including Mars and the heart of the lion. Join us for these and other beautiful encounters in the early morning sky, plus a tale of a runaway star.
November program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide. Find an affiliate »
November 4-10: Distant Vision. The farthest object that's easily visible to the unaided eye is in good view on November evenings — the Andromeda galaxy, which is two-and-a-half million light-years away. Join us for more on this beautiful neighbor.
November 11-17: Cold Astronomy. Antarctica is a great site for studying the universe. Instrument-carrying balloons can stay aloft for weeks, winter provides dark skies for ground-based telescopes, and the solar system even drops some crumbs on the ice.
November 18-24: Busy Evenings. The Moon passes by some bright lights in the evening sky this week, from the eye of the bull to the giant of the solar system. And a supergiant is returning to evening skies as well. Join us for more on some busy evening skies.
November 25-December 1: Moon Meanderings. The Moon passes a passel of bright stars and planets this week, including Mars and the heart of the lion. Join us for these and other beautiful encounters in the early morning sky, plus a tale of a runaway star.
November program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on more than 300 radio stations nationwide. Find an affiliate »
This Month in StarDate Magazine
In our November/December issue, find out how one astronomer is creating a white dwarf star in a giant machine. And learn about the massive swirling storms on our solar system's largest planets called 'polar vortices.'
Subscribe today »
Subscribe today »
Share Your Story for our 75th Anniversary
Have you visited McDonald Observatory? Come share your experience in words and photos on our interactive blog 'Share Your Story' in honor of our 75th anniversary. You can read posts from others describing their memories going back decades, too.
Share now »
Share now »
News From the Observatory
Texas Astronomer Discovers Most Distant Known Galaxy
University of Texas at Austin astronomer Steven Finkelstein has led a team that has discovered and measured the distance to the most distant galaxy ever found. The galaxy is seen as it was at a time just 700 million years after the Big Bang. The result was published in the Oct. 24 issue of the journal Nature.
Sky Survey Captures Key Details of Cosmic Explosions
A pair of recently published studies shed light on the study of the exploding stars known as supernovae. One of these teams includes University of Texas at Austin supernova expert and professor J. Craig Wheeler. That study was published September 20 in The Astrophysical Journal. Read the whole story courtesy of Caltech.
University of Texas at Austin astronomer Steven Finkelstein has led a team that has discovered and measured the distance to the most distant galaxy ever found. The galaxy is seen as it was at a time just 700 million years after the Big Bang. The result was published in the Oct. 24 issue of the journal Nature.
Sky Survey Captures Key Details of Cosmic Explosions
A pair of recently published studies shed light on the study of the exploding stars known as supernovae. One of these teams includes University of Texas at Austin supernova expert and professor J. Craig Wheeler. That study was published September 20 in The Astrophysical Journal. Read the whole story courtesy of Caltech.
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