Fresh from its greatest elongation (best distance from the sun on our sky’s dome) on October 29, Venus is well seen from throughout Earth all through November, 2021.
For Southern Hemisphere skywatchers, this is a wonderful to time to view Venus. Try the night of November 6, when the moon can be a really slim crescent – a younger moon – simply above the sundown level. By the night of November 7, the moon can be a fatter crescent, setting longer after the sun, very close to Venus. On the subsequent night, November 8, the star-forming nebula M8 may be in attain, with optical help. It’ll be glowing subtlely simply past the moon’s darkish aspect. Binoculars will improve the scene.
For Northern Hemisphere skywatchers, Venus will seem decrease within the sky, extra to at least one aspect (the left aspect) of the sundown level. But Venus will stay a stunning mild in our sundown route all through November, 2021. We within the north may also see the moon slide previous Venus on the evenings of November 7 and eight, 2021. Northern viewers may see the very skinny waxing crescent moon on November 6 as effectively. For a particular view, use binoculars to put the moon and Venus in the identical discipline. You’ll additionally see earthshine, a mysterious glow on the moon’s night time aspect.
For us within the Northern Hemisphere, the view of Venus will enhance all through November. That appears paradoxical since Venus has reached the top of its tether with respect to the sun; its distance from the sun is now lowering. Yet the view improves as a result of, as Earth strikes across the sun, the night angle of the ecliptic – or path of the sun, moon and planets in our sky – is shifting upward. The impact is to hold Venus increased within the west after sundown.
Bottom line: The moon will sweep previous Venus on the evenings of November 7 and eight, 2021. Try November 6, too, when the moon can be simply rising from the sundown glare.
