The Skies

Sun and Moon Data

To find sun and moon rising and setting times for your park or office, go to the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day webpage.

Night Skies

An update on the moon, planets and night skies for the month of November, updated weekly.

The visible planets this week:

• Mars – Mars is visible in the early evening near the southwestern horizon.
• Jupiter – Jupiter rises in the northeast as Mars sets in the southwest. It’s not visible until late evening, rising with the bright star Aldebaran.
• Venus – Venus continues to be visible in the pre-dawn sky.

Calendar of upcoming celestial events for November:

• Monday, 11/26 – Venus will pass very close by Saturn at midnight.
• Wednesday, 11/28 – The moon is full. It will pass close by Jupiter in the evening sky.

For more information on stars, planets and other night sky phenomena, go to “The Sky This Week” page at the U.S. Naval Observatory page at http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/tours-events/sky-this-week

The Weather

Watches and Warnings

The principal watches and warnings posted as of early this morning were as follows. Note that these change over the course of a day and represent only initial daily forecasts. Click on this link for a full-sized map showing these hazards:

• Winter storm watches, warnings and advisories – Areas throughout the Northwest and California.
• High wind watches, warnings and advisories – Areas throughout the Northwest and California and Nevada.
• Flood watches, warnings and advisories – Coastal Washington and Oregon and northeast Idaho.
• Red flag warnings – North central Florida.
• For additional information on severe weather, go to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center at http://www.spc.noaa.gov/ .

This Day in NPS History

In The Parks

On November 21, 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Lava Beds National Monument, California. Lava and molten rock from volcanic activity here created a natural fortress used by the Modoc Indians in the Modoc War of 1872–73. Click here for other park anniversary dates.

In Memoriam

There were no NPS line of duty deaths on this date. Click here for a full list of on-duty deaths.

From The Morning Report Archives

Today’s incident from the Morning Report archives:

Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs – When a 20-year-old man from Los Angeles failed to return home from a scheduled solo hike in the Mineral King area of the park on September 16, 1988, he was reported missing and a major, extended interagency search was begun that involved up to four helicopters, seven dog teams and 65 ground searchers. His body was found near Sawtooth Peak on September 22nd. It appeared that he died as the result of a fall. The victim was a former national high school “Senior of the Year” and received the award from President Reagan.

Contact Information
Name: Bill Halainen, Editor