logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2024
14m 48s

Last Minute Astronomer - November Episo...

365DAYSOFASTRONOMY.ORG
About this episode

I’m Rob Webb, your Last Minute Astronomer, bringing astronomy to normies and nerds, with little time to spare.  Let’s start by talking about the naked eye planets visible this month, the lunar phases, and then the meteor shower and other events, so you can plan further ahead than me. 

Similar to October, in November Saturn and Jupiter are the steady highlights above, Venus shines brilliantly after sunset, and rocks fall from the sky.

 

A highlight:

17th - 18th – Leonid Meteor Shower – This annual, weak (10-15 per hour) meteor shower can have some wonderful years.  This year is good because the waxing crescent Moon will already be set early in the evening, making it clear of lunar light pollution into the morning, the best time to view it.

Some advice for watching: 

  • Find a dark location and lie down in a reclining chair or hammock
  • Look around Leo’s head.  That is where the radiant is - where the meteors will appear to be coming from. 
  • The strategy to observe this year is to get out there whenever you can, but the later you stay up, the more you’ll see, since the radiant will be higher and you’ll be closer to the peak.  
  • Check the weather to see if the skies will be clear 
  • Adapt your eyes to the dark by staying away from light sources or using a red light if you need to look at a star chart or not trip over something.  
  • You never know when a nice meteor will burn up, to take a nice look at the sky in general, noting that the meteors will appear to go from the radiant in the head of Leo and outward. 

 

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too! 

Every bit helps! Thank you!

------------------------------------

Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness!

http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. 

Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!)

------------------------------------

The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu

Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

Up next
Yesterday
Astronomy Cast Ep. 84: Getting Around the Solar System
From April 14, 2008. Have you ever wondered what it takes to get a spacecraft off the Earth and into space. And how managers at NASA can actually navigate a spacecraft to another planet? And how does a gravity assist work? And how do they get things into orbit? And how do they la ... Show More
35m 20s
Aug 24
Travelers in the Night Eps. 325 & 326: Marrakech & Asteroids 2016
Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org From October 2024. Today's 2 topics: - A location 9,000 feet above sea leve ... Show More
6m 3s
Aug 23
The Cosmic Savannah - Ep. 73: Burping Black Holes
Hosted by Dr. Jacinta Delhaize, Dr. Tshiamiso Makwela & Dr. Daniel Cunnama. In this episode of The Cosmic Savannah, our hosts speak with Dr. Eli Kasai from the University of Namibia. Dr. Kasai shares his inspiring journey of establishing the astronomy department at the University ... Show More
37m 32s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2024
How to spot a shooting star during the Perseid meteor shower
“Backyard astronomer” Gary Boyle shares some tips on getting the best view of the Perseid meteor shower, which is meant to be extra special when it peaks in the coming days. 
7m 54s
Jan 2025
Extreme Winds, Martian Clays & Hidden Stars: #491 - The Interstellar Exploration
Space Nuts Episode 491: The Windiest Planet, Martian Mysteries, and Light Pollution Concerns Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner in this captivating episode of Space Nuts, where they explore some of the most fascinating cosmic discoveries of our time. From the extraord ... Show More
39m 45s
Apr 2025
Himalayan Sprite Lightning, Mars' Shocking Spherules, Asteroid Belt Mapping
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 41 The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast Mysterious Red Sprite Lightning, Shocking Spherules on Mars, and a New Geological Map of the Asteroid Belt In this episode of SpaceTime, we explore the breathtaking phenomenon of red sprite lightning cap ... Show More
42m 11s
Jan 2025
Parker Solar Probe's Record-Breaking Journey, Mysterious X-ray Flares, and Solar Cycle's Weather Impact: S28E03
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 03 Parker Solar Probe's Historic Journey NASA's Parker Solar Probe has made history by becoming the fastest man-made object, surviving a record-breaking close approach to the Sun's surface. The probe, travelling at an unprecedented speed of 155,520 kil ... Show More
26m 46s
Dec 2024
Superflare Warnings, Binary Stars at the Galactic Core, and Lucy's Close Earth Flyby: S27E156
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 156 Superflares: A Century-Long Threat? A new study warns of the potential for our Sun to unleash superflares, with the threat estimated at once per century. These massive eruptions could engulf the Earth, challenging our understanding of solar behavio ... Show More
18m 58s
Jul 28
Summer Meteor Showers, Short Summer Days and Ancient Arthropods
If last Tuesday seemed to fly by, you can blame the rotation of Earth. Try to look up this week to see the Southern Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids meteor showers. Plus, we discuss FEMA cuts and ancient arthropods. Recommended reading: Texas Failed to Spend Millions in ... Show More
8m 49s
Feb 2025
Saying Farewell to the Spacecraft That Mapped the Milky Way
The Gaia spacecraft stopped collecting data this January after about 11 years and more than three trillion observations. Senior space and physics editor Lee Billings joins host Rachel Feltman to review Gaia’s Milky Way–mapping mission and the tidal streams, black holes and astero ... Show More
17m 20s
Apr 2025
Cosmic Winds, Nebula Secrets & the Mysteries of Neptune
This episode is presented with the help of NordVPN....it's the one we all use and recommend. It just works! To get our special Space Nuts deal visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts Space Nuts Episode 509: Neptune's Secrets, Lunar Dust Shields, and the Helix Nebula In this exciting epis ... Show More
46m 5s
Jul 30
Dark Energy Unveiled: New Insights from Supernovae, Lunar Magma Mysteries, and Europe's Space Weather Watch
In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover groundbreaking revelations about dark energy, lunar geology, and Europe's innovative space weather monitoring initiative.Dark Energy: A Changing Force?Astronomers have compiled the largest supernova dataset to date, revealing tantalizing h ... Show More
24m 7s
Feb 2025
Cosmic Questions, Solar Mysteries & Lunar Dreams: #492 - The Great Space Q&A
Space Nuts Episode 492: Tidal Locking, Solar Mysteries, and Moon Travel Join Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner in this engaging Q&A edition of Space Nuts, where they tackle a variety of cosmic questions from our curious listeners. From the complexities of tidal locking in ... Show More
36m 11s