Derekscope

Callisto Disappears Behind Jupiter – a Rare Occultation

• In the early hours on Thursday 13th November, something extraordinary unfolds in the sky ~ Callisto, one of Jupiter’s largest moons, will be occulted (hidden behind the giant planet itself).
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• Visibility from the UK, Callisto is occulted by Jupiter between 1am and 5am ~ make sure you’re prepared before the event happens.
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• The Moon reaches its Last Quarter phase at 05:28 / 5.28am.
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• Approximately 47% of the lunar disk will be lit in the constellation Leo (The Lion).
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• Moonrise around midnight and moonset around 13:30pm.
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• Visible in the southern sky during the morning hours, especially before dawn.
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Two beautiful celestial pairings unfold on consecutive nights.

• Sunday 9 November 2025
  – Bright and unmistakable, Jupiter will be above and slightly to the left of the Moon in the constellation Gemini.
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• Monday 10 November 2025
  – the Moon will be below the Praesepe or Beehive Cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer.
  – best viewed after midnight into early morning, between 2:00 and 5:00am.
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Algol
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• The bright variable star Beta Persei (Algol) reaches its minimum brightness at 18:13 pm in the early evening on Monday 10th November and will be visible from the UK.
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• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol – read more.
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Algol
The bright variable Star Beta Persei (Algol)
reaches minimum brightness.
(21:24 / 9.24pm)
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• The bright variable Star Beta Persei (Algol) reaches minimum brightness at 21:24 pm p21:24 m in the early evening on Monday 10th November and will be visible from the UK.
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• Here’s a list of upcoming minimum brightness times for Algol – read more.

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Moon & M45

• The Pleiades is bright enough to be seen without equipment, but the Moon’s glare may reduce visibility.
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• Using binoculars ~ highly recommended to resolve individual stars in the cluster and watch the occultation unfold.
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• For challenging that’s a great opportunity for wide-field shots or time-lapse sequences showing the Moon approaching and passing through the cluster.
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• Comet 24P/Schaumasse is on track to pass through Messier 44 (the Beehive Cluster) in Cancer between 7th and 10th November 2025, offering a rare and poetic alignment for UK observers.
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• The comet’s apparent magnitude is expected to be around +17, so it will require moderate to large telescopes and dark skies to observe clearly.
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• Try long-exposure astrophotography to capture the comet’s subtle glow against the glittering Beehive backdrop.
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• This is a rare!
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• Because Titan’s orbit aligns with Saturn’s equatorial plane only when Saturn’s rings are edge-on from Earth’s perspective.
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• This month – November, you can find Saturn in the constellation Aquarius, rising in the east during the early evening and setting in the west before dawn.

Starts now!

The Leonid meteor Shower is active
(Begins: 6th November – Ends: 22nd November 2025)
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• The Leonid meteor shower is beginning active from Wednesday 6th November to Saturday 22nd November 2025, with its peak expected on the night of Sunday 16th thru Monday 17th November.
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• Radiant position – read more
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The Moon at perigee

• The Moon will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, at 22:16 GMT today.
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• Already quite large and bright in the constellation Aries, as it’s approaching full phase and perigee.
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