Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Nov. 11 6:25 4:25

Sat., Nov. 12 6:26 4:24

Sun., Nov. 13 6:27 4:23

Mon., Nov. 14 6:29 4:22

Tues., Nov. 15 6:30 4:21

Wed., Nov. 16 6:31 4:20

Thurs., Nov. 17 6:32 4:20

Fri., Nov. 18 6:33 4:19

The brightest planet in the night sky hovers low in the west just after sunset. Venus is not an easy planet to see unless you have a clear view of the western sky. Standing along the north shore, from West Chop to the Gay Head Cliffs offers the clearest view. There it hovers for a short time in the twilight, outshining all others.

Venus is 139 million miles away and slowly getting closer. As this happens, it also will get higher in our west. By mid to late December, Venus should be visible to everyone, high in the western sky after sunset.

Most have seen brilliant Jupiter rising in the east after sunset. Jupiter is not as bright as Venus, but it is easier to see. Jupiter is 367 million miles away and slowly moving farther away from earth.

Jupiter resides in the zodiacal constellation Pisces, a hard-to-describe constellations with many faint stars depicting two fish in the sea. Nearly anyone can pick out the Big Dipper and Orion in a field of stars, but Pisces is harder to pick out, made up of mostly fourth magnitude stars.

The star is dimming now, down to about fourth magnitude, according to the most recent observation.

In about a month, Mira will disappear completely from view.

M.A.L.