NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2015 ©
So what’s really been happening at the Gingin Observatory- the Space Place, in
the Solar System and the Universe?
We do apologise for the lateness of these Newsletters – we have been quite busy relocating the
Observatory over to “ Cartref Park Gardens” in Julimar- Toodyay!!! 
YOU’RE GUIDE TO THE NIGHT SKY IN NOVEMBER 2015
Mercury – stays close to the Sun and is unobservable- during November. It moves from the
morning sky into superior conjunction (Mercury and Earth on opposite sides of the Sun) on the
18th and into the western evening dusk sky. As a matter of interest the planet will be occulted
by the Suns disc at this conjunction. Like a transit across the face of the Sun these eclipses of
Mercury are relatively infrequent, the next occurrence being in May 2020 and November 2022
Venus- begins the month close to Mars in the predawn eastern sky, the distance between the
pair narrows to 0.7 on the 3rd and 4th. And then Venus drops away towards the Sun. A
pleasant view occurs on the 8th when Venus is situated between Mars and the 26 day old
waning crescent Moon.
Mars- spends the first couple of days in Leo before crossing into Virgo rising just before
astronomical dawn begins, it shares the eastern horizon with the brightest two planets Venus
and Jupiter. The red planet and Venus will be 1 of each other between the 2nd and the 5th,
with the closest approach of 0.7 on the 3rd and 4th. On the 30th, Mars will be a little over 1
from the second brightest star in Virgo, 3rd magnitude Porrima (Gamus Viginius). Porrima is a
showcase doubles of some note and appears as a stunning duo of equally bright yellowish suns
(each 3.5 magnitude). They reached periastron (the point when the stars are the closest) in
2005 and were impossible to split but with very large telescopes, they are now widening again
in their 169 year orbit and within reach with a 150mm telescope under good seeing conditions(
separation of 1.9 arcseconds).
Jupiter – close planetary companion of the past several weeks, Venus and Mars take leave of
the gas giant and move into Virgo. The planet is visible low in the eastern sky prior to the
brightening of dawn. On 7th the 25 day old wanning crescent Moon appears 2.5 from Jupiter.
Saturn – is only visible low on the western horizon, for a short time after evening dusk and by
mid month will be absorbed into the twilight. On the 7th the planet will be around 4
archminutes from the 4th magnitude from the quadruple star Nu Scorpii, although the altitude
and thick atmosphere are not exactly conductive for splitting double stars. On the 13 th the
planet will be a little south (left) of the two day Moon- a difficult observation in the twilight
although binoculars will help. Saturn is in conjunction (opposite sides of the Sun from Earth) on
the 30th and will be lost from view until its return to the morning sky in Ophiuchus late
December.
Postal Address: PO Box
1216 Toodyay WA 6566
Physical Address: 163
Howard Road, Julimar
Toodyay 6567.
Uranus- now past opposition, transits the meridian (is due north) around 9.30pm mid month in
Pisces.
Neptune – is high early in the north western evening sky at the end of Astronomical dusk in
Aquarius. The planet appears stationary on the 19th after 5 months in retrograde, returning to
a west east direction against the star field.
DWARF PLANETS
Pluto- in Sagittarius sets around 10:30pm mid-month. Between the 16th and 18th the little
world will be swamped by the brilliance of Chi2 Sagittarii as it passes within two archminutes of
this 4th magnitude star.
COMETS
Comet 10P/Tempel 2- : opens November in Sagittarius at 10th magnitude. Perihelion for
Temple 2’s current apparition is this month on the 14 th of November with altitude about 20, at
the end of astronomical twilight. Unfortunately the Moon will be in the evening sky during the
second half of November. It continues its galactic trip through the galactic centre, calling on a
number of deep sky objects this month in Sagittarius this month. This includes passing through
the Teapot asterism. Temple 2 spends the month approximately 9 above comet 22P/Kopff.
Comet 22P/ Kopff -: It is close to 12th magnitude, setting an hour after twilight. It encounters a
number of deep sky objects in Sagittarius this month including a close visit to the Trifid Nebula
on the 12th.
Comet C/2013 US 10 (Catalina)-: after passing through perihelion on 15th, moves into the dawn
sky in the latter half of November. It is predicted maximum brightness of approximately 5.5
magnitude. At month’s end it is rising, just after the beginning of astronomical dawn, about
12 to the lower right of Spica. Unfortunately the moon will be in the sky at the same time.
METEOR SHOWERS- The Northern Taurids are bright slow meteors active during October and
November. The shower is composed of two radiants of nearly equal activity 10 degrees apart.
The Northern Taurids peak around the 12th of November and the Southern Taurids in October.
The Taurids are frequently bright, slow moving and noticed for producing bright fireballs
(although not in every year). Four of the last five Northern Taurids showers have displayed
unusual and variable activity (the exception was 2012), so it may pay to keep a watch this year.
Their relative slowness and brightness makes them an ideal target for astroimaging. They are
associated with the Comet 2P/Encke, and can be seen from late evening to early morning.
There will be no lunar interference this year with New Moon occurring during the peak.
Postal Address: PO Box
1216 Toodyay WA 6566
Physical Address: 163
Howard Road, Julimar
Toodyay 6567.
NB If you see bright fireball in our night skies please go to the website below and report what
you have seen. http://www.fireballsinthesky.com.au/ Meteorites are the oldest rocks in existence: the
only surviving physical record of the formation and evolution of the solar system. They sample hundreds of different
heavenly bodies. Potentially, meteorites offer a direct route to understanding our origins. But to decode that record
we need to know where they come from. The Desert Fireball Network (or DFN for short) is designed to provide that
data.
Meteorites generate a fireball as they come through the atmosphere – you may even have seen one of these
yourself. The DFN is a network of digital cameras in the outback desert of Australia which capture photographs of the
night sky. By making networked observations of the fireball we can triangulate its trajectory, track the rock forward to
where it lands, and back, to where it came from in the solar system.
NOVEMBER MOON……..
1st (9am WST)
3rd (8pm)
Maximum Libration (10.1). Dark NE Limb.
Last Quarter
Occultation of Venus by the Moon, visible from Australia, except far eastern Melanesia, New
Zealand, Victoria Land
Occultation of Mercury by the Moon, visible from South America, Falkland Islands and parts of
Antarctica.
Moon at Apogee – furthest from Earth at 405,721 km)
8th (6am WST)
Minimum Libration (1.1) Dark SE limb.
8th (1pmWST)
New Moon
12th (2amWST)
Maximum Libration (8.6), dark SW limb. Features favoured by this libration are in darkness by
nonetheless its effects are apparent on the opposite limb where the prominent features like the crater
Endymion and Mare Crisium are depressed toward the limb.
15th (7pmWST)
First Quarter
19th (2pmWST)
Minimum Libration (2.2), dark NW limb.
22nd (4pmWST)
Occultation of Uranus by the Moon, visible from Queen Maud Land, Enderby Land and southern
Indian Ocean.
23rd (3amWST)
Moon at Perigee (closest to Earth, 362,817km)
24th (4amWST)
Full Moon
26th (7amWST)
Occulation of Aldebaran by the Moon, visible from Japan, Eastern Russia, northern USA, Canada
and Greenland.
26th (6pmWST)
Maximum Libration (9.1) dark NE limb.
30th (2amWST)
OUR STAR SOL - THE SUN – IN NOVEMBER 2015
Date
7th
14th
21st
28th
Rise
Set
5:15
5:10
5:06
5:04
18:46
18:53
18:59
19:05
Postal Address: PO Box
1216 Toodyay WA 6566
Physical Address: 163
Howard Road, Julimar
Toodyay 6567.
Twilight
End
20:17
20:25
20:34
20:42
WARNING: do not look at the sun through binoculars or a
telescope without a special lens or you could incinerate your eyes!
NB: We would like to say ‘thank you’ to Quasar publishing for all the
information we have gathered from – Your Guide to the
NightSky–ASTRONOMY 2015 AUSTRALIA. Quasar Publishing
Astronomy Groups in WA
 ACLG - Cosmic Landscape Photography Group of WA
ACLG- Astro photographic & Astronomy
Night sky photography in the past was very difficult and out of reach for most people. Now with the
new digital compact and SLR cameras this has enabled photographers to take beautiful landscape
photos under the Moon or starlit sky. Our group specialises in this type of photography………….take a
photo of a cityscape during the day then one at night - the difference is amazing. We have a wide range
of members from absolute beginners to professionals. So whatever your skill level if you would like to
photograph or take time lapse video of the night sky, this maybe just your scene.
This group is free to join and can be done by sending an email to: briansture@gmail.com
We meet in Bassendean once a month 7.30pm – 9.30pm. Please go to our Facebook site for further
queries.
 AGWA
AGWA meetings are held once a month on a Wednesday night, we are in the same hall as the Cosmic
Landscape group (ACLG). For more info go to their Facebook site or Email Keith Williams
astrogroupwa@gmail.com . Don't forget members can join the Facebook site to keep up with all the
latest astronomical news and chat. https://www.facebook.com/groups/124589480922323/
 ASWA
For further information see the website http://aswa.info or contact ASWA by email at aswa@aswa.info.
 STARGAZERS CLUB WA - Why not learn more about our night skies and join The Stargazers Club.
http://www.stargazersclubwa.com.au/
 WHEATBELT AND HILLS ASTRONOMY GROUP- new group just started up see them on
Facebook for more information.
GINGIN OBSERVATORY – The Space Place (Travelling Telescopes)©
Browse our website www.ginginobservatory.com for “what to do” around and nearby to where we are
situated and of course, Why not follow us on Face-book /Twitter/Linked In/Google +
For all bookings and all enquiries: Email stars@ginginobservatory.com or Phone +61895757740
Postal Address: PO Box
1216 Toodyay WA 6566
Physical Address: 163
Howard Road, Julimar
Toodyay 6567.
Gingin Observatory The Space Place has made an interplanetary transition whilst here on Earth
we have relocated the Observatory to:- “Cartref Park Gardens” 163 Howard Road, Julimar
Toodyay 6567
There are a couple of things you can do whilst you are visiting us – during the daytime you can
visit our glorious gardens before viewing the night sky with us! ( The gardens are open during summer
months early mornings up until 10am – reopen again at 4pm we close during the middle of the day due to the heat
– we are open Tuesdays - Sundays), ( APRIL – NOVEMBER)
We will be open as usual and we are currently be doing astronomy tours of our beautiful night
skies, with our Galaxy Team and our “Travelling Telescopes” so you will not have far to travel to
see us and the Stars. How do we get there? you may say well by car it’s a leisurely drive up
from Perth either the Great Northam road or Toodyay Road, we can be found on Google or
alternatively
You can take a train from Perth / Midland / Toodyay Mon – Saturday (does not operate on
Sundays). For further information and bookings can be made on the Toodyay Visitors Centre
website where you will find accommodation and other places to go to whilst you are here in
Toodyay
You can still book in like normal on our website www.ginginobservatory.com and the distance
is a little longer to get to us and the beautiful night skies are totally worth the drive.. We are all
looking forward to this new adventure and know that you our customers / visitors will support
us as we make this interplanetary transition here on Earth. The Place in Planetary Space!
Please contact us for further queries – thankyou
Sincerely
See you in the Universe
Quasar and Hans Solo and the Galaxy Team ©
Postal Address: PO Box
1216 Toodyay WA 6566
Physical Address: 163
Howard Road, Julimar
Toodyay 6567.