Archive
05/31/2013 – Ephemeris – Previewing June skies
Ephemeris for Friday, May 31st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 9:19. The moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 2:11 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:00.
Let’s take a look at June skies as the 6th month starts tomorrow. There will be a lot of sun this month. The daylight hours will increase a bit from 15 hours and 20 minutes tomorrow to 15 hours and 33 minutes on the 21st, retreating back to 15 hours 30 minutes at month’s end. At this time of the year the sunset times for Ludington, Interlochen, Petoskey and Mackinaw City are very nearly the same. However the sunrise times are at their most divergent. With Ludington’s sunrise being 14 minutes later than Mackinaw City’s. The altitude of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will increase from about 67 and a half degrees to 68 and three quarters on the 21st. Summer will start on the 21st at 1:04 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The stars and planets, specifically for June 15, 2013 at 11 p.m.
The constellation abbreviations, names and bright star names are found here.
- The arrow from the pointer stars of the Big Dipper to Polaris the North Star, near the north celestial pole.
- Follow the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper to Arcturus.
- A Leaky Dipper drips on Leo
- Follow the spike to Spica.
- The Summer Triangle (in red)
05/30/2013 – Ephemeris – The constellation of the harvest, Virgo
Ephemeris for Thursday, May 30th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 17 minutes, setting at 9:19. The moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 1:42 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:00.
Tonight in the sky: to the south, with the bright Saturn to the left of the bright star Spica is the constellation and member of the of the zodiac: Virgo the virgin. Virgo is a large constellation of a reclining woman holding a stalk of wheat. The bright star in the center of the constellation, Spica, is the head of that spike of wheat; and as such it ruled over the harvest in two of Virgo’s guises as the goddesses Persephone and Ceres. Virgo is also identified as Astraea the goddess of justice. The constellation of Libra, the scales, which she is associated with, is found just east of her low in the southeast. Early Christians saw Virgo as the Virgin Mary. Virgo is the host to a grand cluster of galaxies.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Virgo, Saturn and Libra at 11 p.m. on May 30, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
05/29/2013 – Ephemeris – Planetary breakup in the west while Saturn looks on
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 29th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 9:18. The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 1:10 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:01.
The early evening will be taken up with the slow breakup of the grouping of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10 p.m. Mercury now is on top with Venus below with Jupiter below Venus. Jupiter will set at 10:48 with Venus following 9 minutes later. Mercury will set at 11 p.m. Hanging backing from this planetary grouping in the east southeast will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Saturn will pass due south at 11:30 p.m., and will set at 4:48 tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus and Jupiter low in the west northwest at 10 p.m. on May 29, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and the constellations of the south at 11 p.m. on May 29, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
05/28/2013 – Ephemeris – Boötes the bear chaser
Ephemeris for Tuesday, May 28th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 14 minutes, setting at 9:17. The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 12:34 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:02.
Appearing high in the southeastern sky at 10:30 tonight is the kite shaped constellation of Boötes the herdsman. The bright star Arcturus is at the bottom of the kite, pointed to by the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, overhead. In one story Boötes represents a young hunter named Arcas, son of Callisto, a beautiful young lady who had the misfortune of being loved by Zeus the chief Greek god. Zeus’ wife Hera, found out about it, and since she couldn’t punish Zeus, turned Callisto into an ugly bear. Arcas, unaware of why his mother disappeared in his youth was about to kill the bear when Zeus intervened and placed them both in the sky. Now Arcas as Boötes chases the Great Bear forever around the pole of the sky each day and night.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Bootes and Ursa Major high overhead on late spring evenings at 11 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
05/27/2013 – Ephemeris – They’re breaking up that old planet gang of mine
Ephemeris for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 9:16. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:51 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:02. | Tonight the planets Jupiter and Venus will appear close together in the west northwest after 10 p.m. With Mercury above them and to the left. Find a spot with a low western horizon to check them out. The grouping will break up from there. But in the days to come keep checking out Venus and Mercury. A week ago I was doing some telescope work at the Leelanau School’s Lanphier Observatory on the shore of Sleeping Bear bay. It was a gorgeously clear night. Twilight was fading. The fat crescent moon was high in the southwest, with Jupiter in the west. Venus was visible just above the horizon. A great many stars were visible too. The sight took this old astronomer’s breath away.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Update: I spotted the three last night in that tight triangle in a binocular field. Venus was easiest to spot, then Jupiter and Mercury. It was a gorgeous sight.
Addendum
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
05/24/2013 – Ephemeris – The grouping of planets will reach its climax Sunday
Ephemeris for Friday, May 24th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 9:13. The moon, 1 day before full, will set at 6:31 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:04.
This holiday weekend the planet grouping of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury reach their most compact. The group is collapsing rapidly, and the planets will be at their most compact Sunday night the 26th. For a preview of the planet’s motion go to my blog at bobmoler.wordpress.com. As far as any astronomical significance to this alignment of the planets, there isn’t any. Astrologers make a big deal of such groupings, called conjunctions but astronomers have long since discarded astrology as not having any scientific value. Conjunctions like this are reasonably rare and rather remarkable in appearance. It is for this reason that we track and observe them. The heavens are filled with beauty,
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m. on May 24, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation if it has stopped.
05/23/2013 – Ephemeris – The planetary group tightens
Ephemeris for Thursday, May 23rd. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 5 minutes, setting at 9:12. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 5:39 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:05.
Lets take a look at the planet jam in the west after sunset. There’s a rather short period and a very low western horizon that will let you see them. Jupiter will be on top, with Venus just below and to its right. Mercury will be to Venus’ right and just a bit higher. The separation from Jupiter to Mercury is just under 6 degrees, a bit more than half the width of a fist held at arm’s length. It is generally true that the width of one fist held at arm’s length describes a ten degree angle in the sky, Kind of a rule of thumb, or in this case fist to help one gauge the sky with out a sextant or quadrant. Tomorrow the grouping will be getting even more compact. Reaching their most compact Sunday evening.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m. on May 23, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
05/22/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 22nd. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 4 minutes, setting at 9:11. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 4:54 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:06.
The early evening will be taken up with the grouping of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10 p.m. Jupiter will be on top and the easiest to spot with Venus below and right of Jupiter and tiny Mercury off to its right. Mercury sets at 10:24 p.m., with Venus following a minute later, while Jupiter will set at 10:48. Hanging backing from this planetary grouping in the east southeast will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Tonight Saturn will be to the left of and above the bright moon. Saturn will pass due south at midnight, and will set at 5:16 tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
Saturn and the moon at 10 p.m. on May 22, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
05/21/2013 – Ephemeris – Dances with Planets
Ephemeris for Tuesday, May 21st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 2 minutes, setting at 9:10. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:17 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:07.
Over the next week there will be a planet grouping low in the west about 10 p.m. as Jupiter continues it slide toward the sun while Venus and Mercury move away from the sun. Mercury will earn its title as the messenger of the gods, and fastest planet by overtaking Venus and Jupiter on consecutive nights. The group of the three planets will be their most compact on Sunday night he 26th. Tonight however Mercury will be to the right and a bit below Venus with Jupiter above and left of them both. Tomorrow night Mercury will have moved to be almost level with Venus, while Jupiter drops toward them. On bobmoler.wordpress.com there is an animation of these planets for the next 8 days.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
05/20/2013 – Ephemeris – Silicon rings around old stars in the Hyades
Ephemeris for Monday, May 20th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 0 minutes, setting at 9:09. The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:45 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:08. | I found this item at Universe Today, an astronomical news website, universetoday.com. The Hubble Space telescope has found evidence of rings of mainly silicon around two white dwarf stars in the Hyades star cluster. The Hyades is the V-shaped star cluster just below the setting Jupiter these nights. White dwarf stars are old stars in their last stage of life and usually don’t show the absorption of heavy elements in their spectrum. These two stars must have pulverized rings of silicon plus a little carbon orbiting them, suggesting the formation of earth-like planets. Astronomers usually don’t see this in cluster stars, which are generally young and too active to show planet forming material close to them.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 