Globular clusters are stable, tightly bound clusters containing tens of thousands to millions of stars and are associated with all types of galaxies. The intense gravitational attraction of these closely packed clusters of stars means that globular clusters have a regular spherical shape with a densely populated centre — as can be seen in the heart of this star-studded image.
— ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Cohen; CC BY 4.0
As twilight deepens during the evenings of November 24 to 28, a waxing crescent moon appears in the south to southwest, above the setting Teapot asterism. The Teapot is a star pattern within the constellation Sagittarius the Archer. The observing window is short: Arrive at a view to the south-southwest before nightfall, 5:54 p.m., on the 25th. The crescent moon sets at about 8:15 p.m. in hilly terrain, 8:55 p.m. on the horizon.
Seen from Earth, the Globular Cluster NGC 6569 appears to be in the center of the spout of the Teapot star pattern. “Given its visual magnitude of 9.47, NGC 6569 is visible with the help of a binocular with a 60-70mm aperture or a small telescope,” says The Sky Live.
Pictured here in late twilight, notice Fomalhaut, 1.15 magnitude, the brightest star in the south, to the left of the crescent moon on the 25th. Fomalhaut sets in the southwest at about 10 p.m. through the first evenings of December.
Planet Jupiter, -2.50 magnitude, rises in the east-northeast at 7:53 p.m. on November 25 and climbs to 10 degrees above the east-northeast horizon by 9 p.m. The largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, is more massive than all the other planets and moons combined. Third most brilliant object in the night sky, next to the moon and Venus, Jupiter rises at 7:10 p.m. on December 5. Notice the constellation Orion the Hunter to the planet’s right. Planet Saturn, 1.09 magnitude, is visible at nightfall, about 6 p.m., in the south-southeast about a third of the way to zenith.
Let’s rendezvous at 8 p.m. on a clear night at a spot with a view to the east. Orion the Hunter will be stretched out, as if levitating above the horizon, about to climb and stand upright to travel the dome of the sky. The full figure of Orion the Hunter can be found approaching and then standing upright close to the western horizon around 5:30 a.m. as November turns to December. Brilliant Sirius the Dog Star shines above the southwest horizon, to the left of Orion, and planet Jupiter gleams above the stalwart figure. Full Cold Moon, -12.92m, rises above the northeast horizon at 3:45 p.m. on December 4 and sets in the west-northwest at 8:13 a.m. on December 5.
