Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W47

Week begins: Monday, November 17, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Nov 17, 2025♏ 26
β1 Tuc — Binoculars 4 — Southern Autumn
β2 Tuc — Binoculars 5 — Southern Autumn
Tue, Nov 18, 2025♏ 27
β3 Tuc — Binoculars 5 — Southern Autumn
C17 / NGC 147 — Telescope 9 — Northern Autumn
Wed, Nov 19, 2025♏ 28
Finest NGC 6 / NGC 185 · MCG 8-2-10 / C18 / NGC 185 — Telescope 10 — Northern Autumn
M110 — Telescope 9 — Northern Autumn
Schedar (α Cas) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Autumn — in the Milky Way
Thu, Nov 20, 2025♏ 29
🌑 New Moon — 06:47:16 UTC
M31 — Telescope 3 — Northern Autumn
M32 — Telescope 8 — Northern Autumn
Diphda (β Cet) — Naked eye 2 — Tropical Autumn
C1 / NGC 188 — Telescope 8 — Arctic Autumn
Fri, Nov 21, 2025♏ 30
C56 / NGC 246 / Finest NGC 15 / NGC 246 · Skull Nebula — Telescope 8 — Tropical Autumn
C62 / NGC 247 — Telescope 9 — Tropical Autumn
Finest NGC 13 / NGC 253 · Sculptor Galaxy / C65 / NGC 253 · Sculptor Galaxy — Telescope 8 — Southern Autumn
Sat, Nov 22, 2025♐ 1
♐ Sun enters Sagittarius — 01:35:35 UTC
Finest NGC 7 / NGC 281 · PacMan Nebula — Telescope 7 — Northern Autumn
Sun, Nov 23, 2025♐ 2
C70 / NGC 300 — Telescope 8 — Southern Autumn
Cih (γ Cas) — Naked eye Var 2 — Northern Autumn

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins November 17, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♏︎ 24°53′
β −0°00′		♎︎ 19°12′
β −2°46′		♐︎ 2°41′
β −0°36′		♏︎ 12°36′
β +1°09′		♐︎ 9°00′
β −0°33′		♋︎ 25°06′
β +0°07′		♓︎ 25°16′
β −2°25′
ObservingNightNaked eye -7.2☉︎☉︎☉︎Naked eye -2.4Naked eye 0.8
Rise07:1504:1407:5906:0808:3220:4314:30
Set16:4515:0017:0416:1617:2611:5402:03

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♈︎ 2°35′
β −12°24′		♉︎ 29°38′
β −0°12′		♓︎ 29°32′
β −1°22′		♒︎ 1°38′
β −3°46′
ObservingTelescope 8.3Binoculars 5.6Telescope 7.7TelescopeTelescope 14.6
Rise15:3916:5214:3412:28
Set02:2007:4802:2721:10

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 19:36:48 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W47 runs from November 17 through November 23. Mercury is about 0.1° in ecliptic longitude from Dschubba in Scorpius. Mars is about 0.8° in ecliptic longitude from Antares in Scorpius.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 06:47:16 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Schedar, Diphda, Cih as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Schedar: The Heart of Cassiopeia, a Luminary of the Northern Sky — An exploration of Schedar, a prominent star in the constellation Cassiopeia, illuminating its significance and characteristics.

Diphda in Cet: A Bright Star with Deep Cosmic Roots — Exploring the significance and characteristics of the prominent star Diphda, a key celestial marker in the constellation Cet.

Cih: A Stellar Landmark in the W-shaped Cassiopeia — An enduring point of brightness in the W-shaped constellation, offering navigational and observational insights.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -7.2; direct motion; 9.5% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 06:47 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 07:15 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Nov 19 04:49 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Nov 21 11:13 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude 3.2; retrograde motion; 4.6% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 09:23 UTC. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 07:15 UTC. Venus: In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 97.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Nov 19 04:49 UTC. Mars: In solar glare; magnitude 1.4; direct motion; 99.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Nov 21 11:13 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 8.3; retrograde motion; 98.1% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Nov 21 23:58 UTC: turns direct. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.4; retrograde motion; 99.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 0.8; retrograde motion; 99.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.6; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Nov 21 12:25 UTC. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.6; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Tucana’s closed figure in the finder, then identify Beta1 Tuc at its charted position. Trace Tucana’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Beta2 Tuc at its charted position. Trace Tucana’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Beta3 Tuc at its charted position.

Beta1 Tuc: A Guiding Beacon in the Southern Skies — An overview of Beta1 Tuc, its position, and significance in the constellation Tucana.

Beta2 Tuc: A Dazzling Beacon in the Southern Sky — Discover the characteristics and significance of Beta2 Tuc, a notable star in the constellation Tucana.

Beta3 Tuc: A Stellar Enigma in the Southern Skies — An overview of Beta3 Tuc—its position, characteristics, and significance within the constellation Tucana.

Small telescope: NGC 147: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 8-2-10: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M110: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Andromeda Galaxy: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M32: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 188: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Skull Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 247: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Sculptor Galaxy: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; PacMan Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 300: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

Exploring the Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy in Cassiopeia — A detailed look at Caldwell 17, a faint but intriguing celestial member of our universe.

Unveiling a Dwarf Galaxy in Cassiopeia: A Celestial Footprint — An exploration of a faint galaxy within the constellation Cassiopeia, highlighting its significance and observable features.

M110: A Distant Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy — An exploration of Messier 110, its characteristics, and its place in the cosmos.

The Andromeda Galaxy: A Cosmic Neighbor in Our Night Sky — An exploration of the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, its features, and its significance to astronomy.

M32: A Compact Companion of the Andromeda Galaxy — Discover the characteristics and significance of M32, a prominent elliptical galaxy within the constellation Andromeda.

Cepheus Stellar Gem: The Open Cluster Near the Celestial North Pole — Discover the beauty and significance of this ancient open cluster nestled in the northern constellation Cepheus.

The Skull Nebula: A Distinctive Planetary Nebula in Cetus — An overview of the celestial beauty and scientific significance of this intriguing planetary nebula.

Unveiling Caldwell 62: A Galaxy Hidden in Cetus — Discover the intriguing celestial object Caldwell 62 within the constellation Cetus, a galaxy that beckons to astronomers with its distant glow.

The Sculptor Galaxy: An Irresistible Window into the Universe — A detailed look at a prominent galaxy in the constellation Sculptor, showcasing its significance in astronomical studies.

The PacMan Nebula: A Distinguished Emission Nebula in Cassiopeia — An exploration of one of the notable celestial objects within the constellation Cassiopeia.

Unveiling the Scl Galaxy: A Dwarf Spheroidal in the Southern Sky — An overview of the intriguing and elusive Scl galaxy, a member of the dwarf spheroidal class within the constellation Sculptor.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:59; sets 17:04 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 3.2. The disk is 4.6% illuminated (crescent). It is 7.8° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 1.143° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dschubba, 1.4° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 09:23 UTC. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 07:15 UTC. Mercury: 1.4° from Dschubba in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:08; sets 16:16 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 97.8% illuminated (gibbous). It is 12.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.255° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Zubenelgenubi, 3.0° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Nov 19 04:49 UTC. Venus: 3.0° from Zubenelgenubi in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 54.1° below the horizon. Rises 04:14; sets 15:00 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -7.2. The disk is 9.5% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 35.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 11.951° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Spica, 5.0° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 06:47 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Nov 20 07:15 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Nov 19 04:49 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Nov 21 11:13 UTC. Moon: 5.0° from Spica in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:32; sets 17:26 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.4. The disk is 99.3% illuminated (nearly full). It is 14.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.729° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Antares, 4.2° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Nov 21 11:13 UTC. Mars: 4.2° from Antares in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 2.1° above the horizon. Rises 20:43; sets 11:54 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.4. The disk is 99.3% illuminated (nearly full). It is 119.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.018° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 6.7° away. Jupiter: 6.7° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 39.8° above the horizon. Rises 14:30; sets 02:03 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 0.8. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 120.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.020° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.1° away. Neptune is 4.4° away at the snapshot. Saturn: 13.1° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 41.9° above the horizon. Rises 16:52; sets 07:48 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 175.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.042° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 11.7° away. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Nov 21 12:25 UTC. Uranus: 11.7° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 43.0° above the horizon. Rises 14:34; sets 02:27 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 124.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.013° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 14.8° away. Saturn is 4.4° away at the snapshot. Neptune: 14.8° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 34.5° above the horizon. Rises 15:39; sets 02:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.3. The disk is 98.1% illuminated (gibbous). It is 126.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.032° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 8.4° away. Station Nov 21 23:58 UTC: turns direct. Ceres: 8.4° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 0.8° above the horizon. Rises 12:28; sets 21:10 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 66.8° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.016° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.8° away. Pluto: 8.8° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.