Archive
03/31/2014 – Ephemeris – Previewing April skies
Ephemeris for Monday, March 31st. The sun will rise at 7:25. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 8:08. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:30 this evening.
The 4th month of the year begins tomorrow. Daylight hours in the Interlochen/Traverse City area and will increase from 12 hours and 46 minutes tomorrow to 14 hours 11 minutes on April 30th. The altitude, or angle, of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will be 50 degrees tomorrow and will ascend to 60 degrees on April 30th. The altitude of the sun in the Straits area will be a degree lower. The actual time of local apparent noon this month for the Interlochen/Traverse City area, when the sun passes due south, will be about 1:43 p.m. The big event for this month will be a total lunar eclipse visible from our area in the wee hours of the morning on April 15th. It’s the first or two lunar eclipses visible from here this year. The other is in October.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Chart for mid-month for April 2014 at 10 p.m. Credit: Bob Moler.
Add a half hour to every week before the 15th and subtract and hour for every week after the 15th.
For a list of constellation names to go with the abbreviations click here.
02/28/2014 – Ephemeris – Looking forward to March and spring
Ephemeris for Friday, February 28th. The sun will rise at 7:21. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 6:29. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:11 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the skies for the month of March. The sun will pass the celestial equator in March as the promising season of spring will begin. Daylight hours in the Interlochen/Traverse City area and will increase from 11 hours and 10 minutes tomorrow to 12 hours 43 minutes on the 31st. The altitude, or angle, of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will be just under 38 degrees tomorrow and will ascend to nearly 50 degrees on the 31st. The altitude of the sun in the Straits area will be a degree lower. Local apparent noon this month, when the sun passes due south, will be about 12:49 p.m. Spring will begin on the 20th at 11:57 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (15:57 UT), which now rules most of the year and will start a week from Sunday.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Chart for mid-month for March 2014 at 10 p.m. Credit: Bob Moler.
Add a half hour to every week before the 15th and subtract and hour for every week after the 15th.
For a list of constellation names to go with the abbreviations click here.
01/31/2014 – Ephemeris – Previewing February skies
Ephemeris for Friday, January 31st. The sun will rise at 8:02. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 47 minutes, setting at 5:50. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 7:18 this evening.
Lets look ahead at the short month of February. It’s so short that this year it has no new moons. To make up for it both January and March have two. We’re in the depths of winter but the sun is continuing its return to northern climes. This is reflected in the increase in daylight hours, from 9 hours 50 minutes tomorrow to 11 hours 7 minutes on the 28th. These times are for the Interlochen/Traverse City area. Durations are slightly shorter in the northern part of our listening area and slightly longer to the south.. As the month goes on the weather should generally warm up, though this year who knows what will happen. Mercury is seen early for the next week or so and Jupiter are seen in the evening along with all the wonderful constellations of winter.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
A star chart for February 15th at 9 p.m. Add a half hour to every week before the 15th and subtract and hour for every week after the 15th. Created using my LookingUp program.
For a list of constellation names to go with the abbreviations click here
01/01/2014 – Ephemeris – A look at events the month and for the next few days and the planets
Note: The two paragraphs below were aired on IPR. They are not my usual Wednesday feature on the planets which is in the addendum. The first few days of January are busy with astronomical happenings. I’ll have a preview of this year’s eclipses on Monday the 6th with the daily and an extra post.
Ephemeris for New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1st, 2014. The sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:13. The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Happy New Year. We’re too busy with astronomical events to preview the year. Today and tomorrow we’ll cover the highlights of this month. We’re a day from the latest sunrise at about the same time as today and will back down to 8:02 by the 31st. Sunset is current increasing by a minute a day and will set at 5:50 at month’s end. Listeners on the shore of Lake Michigan will have about the same sunrise time from Ludington to Mackinaw City, but the sunset times will vary markedly. Jupiter will be in opposition from the sun and rise at sunset on the 4th. This is your last week to see Venus in the evening sky. It will leave the evening sky on the 11th and enter the morning sky. Start looking for the Quadrantid meteor shower that will peak on the 3rd.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
A star chart for January 15th at 9 p.m. Add a half hour to every week before the 15th and subtract and hour for every week after the 15th. Created using my LookingUp program.
For a list of constellation names to go with the abbreviations click here
This is our weekly look at the planets. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 6:36 p.m. Venus is noticeably closing with the sun. It will be lost in the glare of the sun in less than a week. Venus is a thin crescent, and we’re at the point where the crescent can be visible in binoculars. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 5:24 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 1:04 a.m. It will be in opposition from the sun on the 4th, where it will rise at sunset and set at sunrise. Mars will rise at 12:51 a.m. in the east. Reddish Mars is to the upper right of the bright star Spica in Virgo. Saturn will rise at 4:12 a.m. in the east southeast. It will be in Libra this year. The ringed planet will best be seen in the evening next summer. There is a comet visible in binoculars in the morning sky. It’s Comet Lovejoy (C/2013R1).
Venus in the west southwest at 6 p.m. on January 1, 2014. Venus will be harder and harder to spot between now and its inferior conjunction with the sun on the 11th. Created using Stellarium.
Venus’ thin crescent on January 1, 2014 at 6 p.m. The crescent will be bright but the night side will not be visible as Stellarium suggests. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the constellations of winter at 9 p.m. on January 1, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its satellites as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. on January 1, 2014. That actual rotation of the image depends on the telescope. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Saturn among the spring constellations at 6 a.m. January 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The track of Comet Lovejoy, which still should be visible in binoculars from 01/02/14 to 01/31/14 at 6:30 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
10/31/2013 – Ephemeris – A look ahead at the skies of November
Ephemeris for Halloween, Thursday, October 31st. The sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 6:32. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 6:07 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the skies for the month of November. Comet ISON will continue to brighten this month, but will encounter bright twilit skies as it closes in with the sun the week of Thanksgiving. I’m hoping the comet will be visible to the naked eye by mid-month. The sun is still moving south rapidly. Daylight hours in the Interlochen/Traverse City area and will drop from 10 hours and 10 minutes tomorrow to 9 hours 5 minutes on the 30th. The altitude, or angle, of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will be at 30 degrees tomorrow and will descend to 23 and a half degrees on the 30th. The altitude of the sun in the Straits area will be a degree lower. Local noon, this month, will be about 12:30 p.m. when standard time returns.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Chart based on 9 p.m. on November 15, 2013. Created using my program LookingUp.
The constellation abbreviations, names and bright star names are found here.
The red triangle is the Summer Triangle. The arrow through then front of the Big Dipper point to Polaris.
The path of Comet ISON and Comet Encke for November 1st through 14th, 2013. Created using Cartes du Ciel. Labels contain date and predicted magnitude. Click to enlarge.
Comet ISON will remain an early morning comet for November and most of December.
The oddball object with the skewed label is the moon.
The path of Comet ISON and Comet Encke for November 15th through 28th, 2013. Created using Cartes du Ciel. The planets, Sun and Moon have been removed for clarity. Labels contain date and predicted magnitude. Click to enlarge.
The above two images are from my program Prospects for Viewing Comet ISON to be given tomorrow night at the regular meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society starting at 8 p.m. at Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory south of Traverse City on Birmley Road.
Local school groups or clubs ca request the program by commenting to this post or emailing to info@gtastro.org.
10/01/2013 – Ephemeris – Let’s Preview October Skies
Ephemeris for Tuesday, October 1st. The sun will rise at 7:40. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 41 minutes, setting at 7:22. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:10 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the skies for the month of October. The sun will still be moving south rapidly. Daylight hours in the Interlochen/Traverse City area will drop from 11 hours and 41 minutes today to 10 hours 13 minutes on the 31st. The altitude of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will be 42 degrees today, and will descend to 31 degrees on Halloween, also in the Interlochen/Traverse City area. The Straits area will have the sun a degree lower. Local noon, when the sun is due south will be about 1:30 p.m. in Interlochen/Traverse City. Comet ISON is currently about a sixth as bright as original estimates would predict. However comets can unpredictable in their brightness. So we will know for sure in two months.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star Chart for October 15th, 2013 at 9 p.m. Created by my LookingUp program.
08/29/2013 – Ephemeris – Previewing September Skies
Ephemeris for Friday, August 30th. The sun will rise at 7:02. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 8:22. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:25 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the skies for the month of September. The sun will moving at its greatest speed in its retreat to the south. Daylight hours in the Interlochen/Traverse City area and will drop from 13 hours and 13 minutes Sunday to 11 hours 44 minutes on the 30th. The altitude of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will be 54 degrees Sunday, and will descend to 42 degrees on the 30th. The season of summer is getting short, so enjoy it while you can. Summer ends and autumn begins at 4:44 p.m. on September 22nd. On the 18th Saturn will be overtaken by Venus as Venus increases its separation from the Sun and Saturn moves around toward the sun. We’ll soon lose Saturn in its glare.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Star chart for September 15, 2013 at 10 p.m. Created using my program LookingUp.
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
- The Summer Triangle (in red)
08/01/2013 – Ephemeris – Previewing August skies
Ephemeris for Thursday, August 1st. The sun rises at 6:29. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 38 minutes, setting at 9:07. The moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:49 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look ahead at the month of August in the skies. Daylight hours will decrease from 14 hours and 38 minutes today to 13 hours 16 minutes on the 31st. The altitude of the sun at local noon, that is degrees of angle above the horizon will decrease from 63 degrees today to just over 53 degrees on the 31st. Straits area listeners can subtract one more degree from those angles. Local noon, when the sun is due south, is about 1:43 p.m. The Perseid meteor shower will reach its peak at between 2 and 4 p.m. on the 12th. That means that more than likely the morning of the 12th and 13th will be equally good. I tend to prefer viewing before the peak, if given a choice. There are some observing events planned for that time.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The sky as it would appear on August 15, 2013 at 10 p.m., without the moon.
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)
- PerR is the Perseid meteor radiant
07/01/2013 – Ephemeris – July preview
Ephemeris for Monday, July 1st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 29 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 2:11 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:01.
Lets preview July’s skies. The sun, having reached its northern solstice, is beginning to slide southward again, at first imperceptibly, then with greater speed. The daylight hours will decrease from 15 hours and 29 minutes today to 14 hours 40 minutes at month’s end. The daylight hours will be slightly shorter south of Interlochen, and slightly longer to the north. The altitude of the sun at local noon, when the sun is due south will decrease from 68 degrees tomorrow to 63 degrees at month’s end. The sun will be a degree lower in the Straits area. Despite the warmth, the earth will reach its greatest distance from the sun on Friday. The planets Venus and Saturn will be our evening planets this month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The stars and planets, specifically for July 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)
05/31/2013 – 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)
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 