During the hour or so before the Sun rises, the inner planet Venus will shine brightly over the eastern horizon. Over the next several days Venus will be in a close conjunction with the blue-white star Spica in the constellation Virgo the Harvest Maiden. Venus will pass within 1-2^o from Spica. Venus is unmistakable with an apparent magnitude of -4.7, and for comparison Spica has an apparent magnitude of 0.98, which is bright but not bright like Venus!

   The animated graphic shows the sky at 6 am CST from November 12^th to November 17^th. The first graphic shows the connection between the stars of the Big Dipper, the curved handle, aka the “arc”, and the stars Arcturus and Spica.

   Follow the arc to Arcturus, then speed to Spica.”

    Dwarf Planet Ceres is shown but with an apparent 8^th> would require optical assistance to be visible. Reddish Arcturus in Bootes the Herdsman has an apparent magnitude of -0.07 and is certainly visible.
   
   
   

Click here to go to the Qué tal in the Current Skies web site for monthly observing information, or here to return to bobs-spaces.


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