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Home , Beta Cephei, Iris Nebula, NGC 7380, VV Cephei

Watch this Space for November 2013

Moon Phase for November 2013 Planet Watch The Planets on view for November are: New Moon First Quarter 3 / 11 / 13 10 / 11 / 13 : rises in the morning sky at Mag -0.5 : sets around 3 hours after sunset Full Moon Last Quarter : rises at 1am at Mag +1.4 17 / 11 / 13 25 / 11 / 13 : rises about 7.30pm in Gemini at Mag -2.3 : not visible this month. The : at Mag +5.8 in Pisces sets around 3am : at Mag +7.9 in Aquarius sets at 11.30pm Rises: 7.20am 15th October, Sets: 16.17

Constellation of the Month —King of Ethiopia

A faint northern constellation, found between Cassiopeia, Deneb and . α and  Cassiopiae point to its brightest Alderamin, α Cephei. In Greek mythology Cepheus and Cassiopeia were the parents of Andromeda, immortal- ised in the legend involving Perseus, Pegasus and the sea monster Cetus, a story much mangled in some films! Image Credit: Torsten Bronger Notable :  Cephei – Triple star. Variable blue giant, prototype of its class has a very close (0.25”) companion. Also a mag 8 star 13” away. variables have a small magnitude ranges and short periods.  Cephei – The star after which the class of pulsating variable stars used to first meas- ure the distance of was named. Known as “standard candles”. Also a fine double star easily split in binoculars. Yellow and blue, separation 40”.  Cephei – Named “The Garnet Star” by Herschel, a variable supergiant and one of the reddest stars in the sky. VV Cephei – Supergiant eclipsing variable. Period 20.4yr, next eclipse starts in 2017, mid-eclipse in April 2018. Some Interesting Objects: NGC 188 (C1) : NGC 40 (C2) : Faint planetary, the “Bowtie ” NGC 6946 (C12) : Spiral, the “Fireworks ” NGC 7380 : Cluster + the “Wizard Nebula” NGC 7023 (C4) : The “” IC1396 : Large area of nebulosity including the “Elephant’s Trunk” There are no Messier objects in Cepheus.

Lunar Feature of the month Smirnov Dorsa When it comes to lunar observation one of the great intrigues is closely following the bends and kinks from the numerous Dorsa and Rimae that litter the lunar surface. Dorsa Smirnov is a wrinkle ridge system, a fea- ture connected to tectonic activity when lava started to cool down and contract. Smirnov runs for 156 kms and can be found in the Mare Serenitatis and is easily located. Find the large crater Posidonius and Dorsa Smirnov is located next to the crater running in a North to South Direction.

Smirnov Dorsa by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera.

Photo by NASA

The Sun in November

There has been a little more activity of late on the Sun. The aver- age sunspot number since the equinox is 66. Most spots have been quiet but spots 1861 and 1865, imaged on October 12, have magnetic fields which harbour the energy for X class flares. X class flares are the most energetic category and potentially can produce good auroral displays at northern

On September 23, in Norway, compass needles swung 1o away from normal when a local geomagnetic storm occurred over the northern part of the country. Rob Stammes recorded it at the Polarlightcenter in Lofoten. Strong auroras were also seen.

The display might be related to the approach of a solar wind stream emanating from a coro- nal hole which opened up on September 21.

The wind was predicted to reach on September 23/24.

Image credits: SDO/AIA.

Storm info. from Space Weather Sept 24

ISS visibility, November 2013 Observatory is 50.9 N - 1.0 W

Data from CalSky: http://www.calsky.com

ISS night-time visibility, magnitude greater than -2.0, height greater than 30° No evening passes

Transits of Sun and Moon and night-time close passes. No transits

Satellite flares Magnitude greater than -4.0, height greater than 30°

Date Time Satellite Mag Dirn Ht Fri 1 Nov 17:15 Iridium 29 -6.5 SSW 38.2° Sat 2 Nov 18:44 Iridium 5 -6.9 SE 43.4° Tue 5 Nov 17:00 Iridium 30 -6.5 SSW 33.5° Sun 10 Nov 18:14 Iridium 96 -4.1 SSE 39.8° Tue 12 Nov 18:02 Iridium 97 -4.1 SSE 40.1° Fri 29 Nov 18:23 Iridium 52 -6.1 SSE 35.0°