November will be a month of anticipation as the bright stars and constellations of winter start to make their appearance shortly after the sky gets dark. They will be led by two of the best sights in astronomy, the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters. Telescopes are usually needed to see star clusters, but these two are prominent with the naked eye.

The Pleiades (or Seven Sisters) will rise first and should be instantly recognizable as six or seven moderately bright stars about as close together as they could be without losing their individual recognizability. There is no other sight like them in all the heavens. The brightest stars form the shape of a tiny dipper and sometimes are confused with the Little Dipper, which is much larger and in the northern sky. In Greek mythology, the cluster represents the seven daughters of the Titan god Atlas, who was condemned to carry the sky on his shoulders, and Pleione, a sea nymph. If there are seven sisters, why do most people see only six stars in the cluster? No one knows for sure, but for some reason, one of the stars may have dimmed in the past. However, if the Pleiades are observed with binoculars or a telescope, many more stars will be seen. The Pleiades, like all star clusters, probably were formed from the same cloud of dust and gas and are held together by their common gravity. They are about 125 million years old and about 444 lightyears from Earth. Zeus placed the Seven Sisters in the sky so they could have relief from the unwanted amorous advances of Orion (the Hunter) and to comfort their father, Atlas.

The Pleiades will be followed into the sky by the Hyades star cluster that is larger, but not as dramatic, as the Pleiades. The brighter stars of the cluster have the shape of a “V” and represent the face of Taurus (the Bull) although the brightest star, Aldebaran, is not a part of the cluster. It is much closer to Earth and just happens to be in line with the Hyades. In Greek mythology, they are also the daughters of Atlas and Pleione. When their brother Hyas was killed in a hunting accident, their grief was so great that they cried until they died of their grief. Zeus then placed them in the sky where they are associated with rain. When viewed with binoculars, the many stars of the Hyades will be revealed. The cluster is about 625 million years old and about 153 lightyears from Earth.

The only planet that will be visible during the evening will be Saturn. It will be unmistakable in a dim part of the southern sky and will drift westward until it sets before dawn. Mars followed by Jupiter will join it at about 1:00 in early November. Night owls or early risers should enjoy watching Mars, which is moving eastward faster than Jupiter, catch up to and then pass Jupiter at midmonth. Brilliant Venus will rise about 60-90 minutes before sunrise as November begins and about 3 hours before sunrise late in the month. During the latter part of November, fleet Mercury will join it and be low in the eastern sky.

Observing Highlights

-Nov. 2: After they rise shortly after 1:00 and until dawn, Mars, Jupiter, and Regulus in Leo (the Lion) will form an evenly spaced line with the Moon close to the right of Mars.

-Nov. 7: Brilliant Venus will be above the crescent Moon and close to the right of Spica, the brightest star in Virgo (the Maiden). Look about 45 minutes before sunrise.

-Nov. 17: After they rise just after midnight, Mars will be to the left of brighter Jupiter as it passes the slower planet.

-Nov. 19: The Moon will be to the upper right of Saturn. The Moon will move in its orbit and be left of Saturn on the 20th.

-Nov. 20: Mercury will be at its highest point, but still low in the eastern sky. Brilliant Venus will be above Mercury and to the upper left of Spica in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden). Look about 60 minutes before sunrise.

-Nov. 24: The full Moon will be to the upper left of the Hyades star cluster and the bright star Aldebaran, and to the lower left of the Pleiades (or Seven Sisters) star cluster. All will be in the constellation Taurus (the Bull).

-Nov. 29: After they rise at about 11:00, there will be a tight grouping of the Moon, very bright Jupiter to its left, and with Regulus in Leo (the Lion) and reddish Mars following behind. During the night, the Moon will move in its orbit and be to the right of Regulus by dawn.