SKYWATCH: November 2021
By Phillip Virden: Lake City, Colorado Amateur Astronomer, Cooperative Observer for 30+ years for National Weather Service, Dark Sky Coordinator for Lake Fork Valley Conservancy
“The line-storm clouds fly tattered and swift…”
October Weather in Review
Average high temperature was 57 vs 59.5 historical average.
High temperature of the month was 69 on October 25th.
Average low temperature was 25.5 vs 25.6 historical average.
Low temperature of the month was 13 on October 16.
Average median temperature was 41.25 vs 42.55 historical average.
Total precipitation was 1.28” vs 1.29” historical average.
Most precipitation in one day was .37” on October 15.
November Weather Averages
Historical average high 45.5 degrees
Historical average low 13.4 degrees
Historical average mean temperature 29.45
Historical average precipitation .95”
Autumn in Full Swing
I’ve experienced 48 autumns in Lake City and am always excited for this time of year to enjoy some of the best weather and beauty of the year. I note that we have three “Indian Summers” (one in September, one in October, and another in November) where we have stretches of a week or more of dry and clear conditions. So far, this autumn of 2021 is one of the more exceptional ones I’ve witnessed. The aspens in September were extra bright and colorful. As the aspens slowly lost their leaves, the cottonwoods in Lake City and along Henson Creek and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison turn golden. Although November lacks the dynamic color of September and October, there is still a special something (maybe it is the wonderful quiet) that embraces Lake City the days before Thanksgiving. In between all this, we have some healthy snowstorms. Nothing better than waking up after one of those storms and looking outside to see a sunny landscape with fresh snow on the mountain peaks.
November & December Skies at Night
The Gemini constellation is already visible in the early morning hours of November. Meteors will appear to radiate from Gemini the night of December 13 and the morning of December 14.
We’ve got a lot going in these last two months of the year…the Moon near Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn, almost a full lunar eclipse, a reliable meteor shower, and the possibility of a comet sighting!
Nov 7 – Venus will appear near the crescent Moon at dusk in the west.
November 10 & 11 – Watch for the first quarter Moon near Saturn & Jupiter.
November 17 – Leonid meteor shower peaks early this morning. Bright Moon will wash all but the brightest of these meteors.
November 18/19 – Partial lunar eclipse. (More details below)
November 27 – Last quarter Moon.
Mid November thru mid-December – Comet Leonard may be visible (more details coming soon).
December 13 – Geminids meteor shower – One of the most reliable meteor showers of the year. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation Gemini.
December 18 – Scheduled launch of the James Webb telescope.
A near-total lunar eclipse coming November 18/19!!!
2021 has already brought a total lunar eclipse (May 26th). A nearly total eclipse will take place on November 18th. This one will cover the Moon with 97% totality. The penumbral (partial illumination) phase starts at 11:02 pm on November 18th. The eclipse begins at 12:18 a.m. on November 19 with maximum eclipse taking place 2:02 a.m. If conditions are good, the Moon will turn orange in color due to the Sun’s rays passing through Earth’s atmosphere. The eclipse ends at 5:06 a.m.
A lunar eclipse is caused when Earth is aligned directly between the Sun and the Moon. This results in Earth’s shadow being cast on the Moon’s surface.
This beautiful phenomenon does not occur regularly due to the elliptical orbits of the Moon and Earth.
If conditions cooperate, Lake City Skies will hold a comet watch (and possibly meteor watch) session at Windy Point in December. If so, we will post more details in Skywatch or on our Lake City Skies Facebook page.