Volume 17 -- Issue 11 Planet Watch -- November 2011 Mercury will be visible above the western horizon at sunset this month but stays relatively low. By about the middle of the month Mercury reaches eastern elongation and starts moving westward back toward the Sun and away from Venus. This animation shows the two planets at 2-day intervals during November. Venus sets after the sun and like its counterpart, Mercury, is low above the horizon during November. It sort of trails Mercury toward the east but when Mercury turns back at eastern elongation Venus continues eastward. Mars is easily visible high over the southeastern horizon at sunrise. This month Mars increases slightly in apparent magnitude as it moves across the stars of Leo the Lion. Watch on the 10th-11th as Mars passes within about 1 degree from regulus. Jupiter was at opposition last month and so it still rises ar around sunset local time and sets around sunrise. Look for the 3 brighter stars forming the constellation Aries the Ram just west from Jupiter. Saturn is slowly becoming more visible in the pre-sunrise skies. Just recently at superior conjunction, Saturn will gradually become more visible ahead of the Sun as the distance between it and the Sun increases.