Moon
1st Quarter -- 2nd 13:17 – 23:04
Full ----------- 10th 15:47 – 07:04
Last Quarter - 18th 23:44 – 12:43
New ----------- 25th 08:07 – 15:59
Putting the clocks back has improved things for us, no end, but I suppose it’s really the moving of the seasons to blame. Longer nights, but paid for in lower temperatures. So wrap up well when observing.
Planets
Neptune, at mag 7.9 and Uranus at mag 5.8, still lead the pack, rising on the 1st in daylight so become available only after it has darkened enough, by about 6pm. Neptune sets at midnight and Uranus at about 3:30am. At the end of the month they rise in broad daylight so become available at dusk, about 5:15pm, and will set, Neptune at 10:15pm and Uranus at 1:30am
Jupiter will rise on the 1st about 4:30pm, dusk, and set about 6:30am, dusk again. On the 30th it will rise at 2:30pm and set at 4:15am. It’ll rise to be 47° above the southern horizon, so very suitable for observing and photography.
Mars will rise about midnight on the 1st and will be a little brighter at mag 1.1 and bigger at 6 arcsec. It’ll set in broad daylight so will be available till dusk, about 6am. On the 30th, it will rise about 11:30pm and set again after dawn so will be visible till dusk, about 6:30.
As in October Venus will be too close to the Sun for comfort at the beginning of the month but will be safer as it sets during the last week of November.
Mercury is to be avoided all month, too close to the Sun.
Saturn however, may be seen after the first week of November, as it rises in the east about 5:15am on the 8th and progressively earlier each week till at month’s end it will be up by 4am. At mag 0.7 it’ll be bright enough to gain attention.
Meteor Showers
No worthy meteor showers this month.
Comets
Comet 2009/P1 Garradd is getting to the end of its stay with us, for easy observing at least. Also getting very low in the west. The other possible was C/2010 X1 Elinin, but the nucleus disintegrated and it has all but disappeared. C/2010 G2 Hill is available but at Mag 11-ish, a difficult object. It’s running through Auriga into Taurus during November. Worth a try with a camera and if you need more data get in touch.
Lots to see this month as the winter constellations rise, Orion, Monocero Gemini etc., and the Summer ones are still with us, Cygnus Hercules Vulpecula, Lyra.