Home > Ephemeris Program, Observing, Stars, The Moon > Ephemeris: 08/13/2024 – Antares and the Moon

Ephemeris: 08/13/2024 – Antares and the Moon

August 13, 2024

This is Ephemeris for Tuesday, August 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 8:50, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:44. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 12:41 tomorrow morning.

The Moon tonight will have a companion. Just to the left of it will be a star. That star may not look very bright because it is overpowered by moonlight, but it is one of the brightest stars of the sky. It is Antares in Scorpius the scorpion, a red giant star. Every month for the last several years and for the next several years the moon will pass in front of that star. Unfortunately due to the timing and to the path of the Moon it doesn’t happen for any particular spot on the Earth very often. Tonight, as the Moon sets it will be approaching Antares but will appear about to pass below it at the time it sets. We will not be able to see the Moon actually cover or occult Antares from Northern Michigan until May 2028, nearly four years from now.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Animation of the Moon approaching the star Antares tonight
The Moon approaches the bright star Antares as they might be seen tonight, August 13th and 14th 2024 from Northern Michigan. They are shown at hourly intervals from 9:30 PM to 12:30 AM. The time is shown at the bottom right of the image in military time going from 21:30 to 00:30. The occultation of Antares, when the Moon passes in front of Antares, will be visible from the South Pacific Ocean. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
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