FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13

■ As November advances, Orion clears the eastern horizon as early as 8 or 9 p.m. (depending on how far east or west you live in your time zone). High over Orion shines orange Aldebaran. Above Aldebaran is the little Pleiades cluster, the size of your fingertip at arm's length. Two or three fists left of Aldebaran and the Pleiades, you'll hit bright Capella.

Down below Orion, Sirius rises around 10 or 11 p.m. Orion's three-star belt points down to it. No matter where they are in the sky, Sirius always follows along two hours behind Orion. Or equivalently, one month behind Orion.

■ Jupiter and Mars are poised together high in Leo before and during dawn all week. Tonight they're almost at their November 16th conjunction, as shown below. They and Regulus now fit within a 5.3° circle.

Jupiter, Mars, and Regulus are high before and during dawn. Watch them change configuration through the coming week.

P.S.: Today is Friday the 13th, of no astronomical significance.…