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07/07/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 7th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 24 minutes, setting at 9:30, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:05. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 4:36 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. It will set at 11:03 pm. Venus will be spending the rest of summer low in the western sky, and not be as conspicuous as it usually is as the Evening Star. Mars’ visibility is getting to be a real problem. It can be found to the left and a bit above Venus at 10:30 pm, and will set at 11:06 pm. Saturn and Jupiter, are seen best in the morning sky. Saturn will rise before midnight at 10:47 pm. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 11:34 pm. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the southern sky in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT-4 hr). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the evening twilight at 10:30 pm tonight, July 7, 2021. I’m not promising that Mars will be visible, since it’s now down to second magnitude. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn finder animation for 11:30 pm tonight, July 7, 2021. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Jupiter and Saturn at 5 am tomorrow morning, July 8, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury and the Moon at 5:15 am tomorrow morning, July 8, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification for the night of July 7/8, 2021. Times of the display are: Venus, 10:30 pm; Saturn and Jupiter, 5 am. Apparent diameters: Venus, 11.46″; Saturn 18.41″, its rings 42.88″; Jupiter, 46.18″. Mars has an apparent diameter of only 3.80″, and Mercury of 7.32 and are not represented. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on July 7, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 8th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/30/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:01. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 1:35 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. It will set at 11:06 pm. Venus will be spending the rest of summer low in the western sky for the rest of summer, and not be a conspicuous as it usually is. Mars can be found in the west-northwest at 11pm. It’s in Cancer and will set at 11:25 pm as it is slowly losing its race with the Sun. Saturn and Jupiter, are seen best in the morning sky. Saturn will rise before midnight at 11:15 pm. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 12:06 am. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the south in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT-4). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus in evening twilight at 10:30, about an hour after sunset. Mars is in the picture, but the twilight is overpowering it. Created using Stellarium.
Mars with Venus setting at 11 pm, an hour and a half after sunset. Also, visible may be the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo the lion with the asterism of the Sickle or backwards question mark that delineate the head and mane of the beast. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon in morning twilight of 5 am, about an hour before sunrise. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon at last quarter as it might be seen in binoculars or small telescope at 5 am, July 1, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification for the night of June 30/July 1, 2021. Times of the display are: Venus, 10:30 pm; Saturn and Jupiter, 5 am. Apparent diameters: Venus, 11.19″; Saturn 18.29″, its rings 42.62″; Jupiter, 45.30″. Mars has an apparent diameter of only 3.86″ and is not represented. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on June 30, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the July 1st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/23/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:58. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 5:30 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. Venus will set at 11:07 pm. Mars can be found in the west-northwest at 11pm, It’s in Cancer and is currently passing in front of the Beehive star cluster which can be spotted in a pair of binoculars. Mars will set at 11:38 pm as it is slowing losing its race with the Sun. Saturn and Jupiter, are in the morning sky. Saturn will actually rise before midnight at 11:44 pm. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 12:34 am. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the south and south-southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT-4). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in Evening twilight, seen at 10:30 pm, about an hour after sunset. Venus is about 5 1/2 degrees in altitude above a sea or lake horizon. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon tonight at 10:30 pm, approximately 16 hours before actual full moon. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon tomorrow morning at 5 am, about an hour before sunrise. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification for the night of June 23/24, 2021. Times of the display are: Venus, 10:30 pm; Saturn and Jupiter, 5 am. Apparent diameters: Venus, 10.94″; Saturn 18.16″, its rings 42.29″; Jupiter, 44.38″. Mars has an apparent diameter of only 3.91″ and is not represented. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on June 23, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 24th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/21/2021 – Ephemeris – A quick look at three of the naked-eye planets
This is Ephemeris for Monday, June 21st. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:57. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 4:02 tomorrow morning.
I have a couple of pieces of planetary news. Venus will pass south of the star Pollux in Gemini tonight. That means in their current orientation, low on the west-northwestern horizon, that Pollux will appear above and right of the much brighter Venus. This may be visible by 10:30 pm. Venus will set tonight at 11:07. You’ll need a really low western horizon to see it. In the morning sky, Saturn is backtracking to the west slowly, and now Jupiter has stopped its eastward motion and is stationary today and will start its retrograde or westward motion. Both retrograde motions are caused by the Earth, which is in the process of passing these planets. We will pass Saturn August 2nd, and pass Jupiter August 19th. We call these events, oppositions.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4hr). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Pollux and Mars in the evening twilight tonight at 10:30 pm. Venus and Pollux in evening twilight. Venus will be about 5 degrees above the sea or lake horizon at that time. Venus and Mars will cross their apparent paths and be in conjunction on July 13th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter’s retrograde path, June 21, to October 20, 2021. The constellation lines in the lower right are for the eastern end of Capricornus. We pass Jupiter, officially called opposition from the Sun, on August 20th. The solid yellow line above Jupiter’s apparent path is the Ecliptic, the Sun’s apparent path in the sky. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
06/16/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 16th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:30, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 1:55 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. Venus will set at 11:04 pm. Mars can be found in the west-northwest at 10:30 tonight, It’s in Cancer and by next Wednesday will pass in front of the Beehive star cluster which can be easily seen in a pair of binoculars. Check it out each night before then and watch Mars approach the cluster, now to its upper left. Mars will set at 11:55 pm. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 12:12 am. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 1:01 am. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the south-southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus in evening twilight at 10 pm or a half hour after sunset tonight over a sea or Lake Michigan horizon. Venus is a bit less than 10 degrees altitude. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon, Mars and Venus at 11 pm or an hour and a half after sunset tonight over a sea or Lake Michigan horizon. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and the Beehive star cluster at 11 pm tonight as they might be seen in binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear tonight in binoculars or small telescope tonight. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Saturn at 5 am or an hour before sunrise tomorrow morning. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of Venus, Saturn and Jupiter. Venus at the same magnification. Venus, seen at 10 pm, will be 10.72″ in diameter. Saturn at 5 am will be 18.00″ in diameter, its rings 44.43″ in extent. And Jupiter will be 43.43″. The normal cutoff for whether to show a planet here is an apparent diameter of 10″ or greater. Mars doesn’t make the cut, its apparent diameter will be 3.98″ tonight. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree). Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on June 16, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 17th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/10/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s take a belated search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Thursday, June 10th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 9:27, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Let’s take a belated look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. Venus will set at 10:58 pm. Mars can be found in the west at 10:30 tonight, and about to leave the constellation of Gemini, the twins. Tonight it’s below and left of Gemini’s brightest star, Pollux. Mars will set at 12:10 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 12:40 am. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. It has begun its retrograde or westward motion caused by the fact that we are viewing it from another moving planet. Brighter Jupiter, is now in Aquarius, and will rise at 1:28 am. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the south-southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus in the evening twilight at 10 pm or a half hour after sunset tonight, June 10, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mars in the evening with Castor and Pollux at 11 pm or about an hour and a half after sunset. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Saturn at 5 am, one hour before sunrise. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Jupiter as seen in a small telescope at the same magnification at 5 am June 11, 2021. Apparent diameters: Saturn, 17.85″, rings, 41.58″; Jupiter, 42.60″. Mars is too far away to make out detail on its surface, except maybe a polar cap. Its apparent diameter is 4.04″. Venus’ apparent diameter is 10.55″ and will be added when it gets far enough from the Sun to be easily seen. The normal cutoff for whether to show a planet here is an apparent diameter of 10″ or greater. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree). Note that Io is transiting the face of Jupiter. It would normally not be visible, but its shadow on Jupiter might be. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on June 10, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 11th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/02/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s look for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 2nd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 22 minutes, setting at 9:22, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:59. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 3:10 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm. Venus will set at 10:49 pm. Mars can be found in the west at 10:30 tonight, and about to leave the constellation of Gemini, the twins. Tonight it’s below and left of Gemini’s brightest star, Pollux. Mars will set at 12:34 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 1:08 am. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. It has begun its retrograde or westward motion caused by the fact that we are viewing it from another moving planet. Brighter Jupiter, is now within the boundaries of Aquarius, and will rise at 1:55 am. By 5 am these two planets will be in the south-southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus on a flat lake horizon at 10 pm (38 minutes after sunset), June 2, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mars finder chart for 11 pm, June 2, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn Jupiter and the crescent Moon at 5 am, about an hour before sunrise. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The waning crescent Moon as it should appear in binoculars, tomorrow morning at 5 am, June 3, 2021.
Saturn and Jupiter as seen in a small telescope at the same magnification at 5 am June 3, 2021. Apparent diameters: Saturn, 17.64″, rings, 41.09″; Jupiter, 41.51″. Mars is too far away to make out detail on its surface, except maybe a polar cap. Its apparent diameter is 4.13″. Venus’ apparent diameter is 10.35″ and will be added when it gets far enough from the Sun to be easily seen. The normal cutoff for whether to show a planet here is an apparent diameter of 10″ or greater. The symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree). Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 2, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 3rd. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
05/26/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
There is a lunar eclipse this morning. See https://bobmoler.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/05-25-2021-ephemeris-viewing-the-lunar-eclipse-tomorrow-morning/
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 26th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 9:16, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:03. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 9:57 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus might be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm. Mercury will be a bit above and left of Venus, but is now too dim to spot. Venus will set at 10:36 pm. Mars can be found in the west at 10:30 tonight, in the constellation of Gemini the twins. Tonight it’s on the left side of the constellation, below Gemini’s brightest star, Pollux. Mars will set at 12:37 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 1:36 am. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, now within the boundaries of Aquarius, will rise at 2:21 am. By 5 am they will be in the southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
05/19/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 9:09, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:09. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 3:26 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Mars will be joined by two more planets seen in twilight. Both Mercury and Venus are now just above where the Sun set. By 10 pm Mercury should be able to be spotted low in the west-northwest. Venus might be spotted lower and somewhat earlier, it’s a lot brighter than Mercury. Venus will be setting at 10:21 pm with Mercury following at 11:04. Mars can be found in the west at 10:30 tonight, in the constellation of Gemini the twins. Tonight it’s in the middle of the constellation. Mars will set at 12:42 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 2:03 am, with brighter Jupiter rising at 2:43 am. By 5 am they will be in the southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
05/12/2021 – Ephemeris – Searching for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 12th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 9:01, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:16. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 10:06 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Mars will be joined by two more planets seen in twilight. Both Mercury and Venus are now just above where the Sun set. By 9:30 pm Mercury should be able to be spotted low in the west-northwest. Venus might be spotted lower and somewhat earlier. Venus will be setting at 10:02 pm with Mercury following at 11 pm. Mars can be found in the west at 10 pm tonight, in the constellation of Gemini the twins. Tonight it’s in the middle of the constellation. Mars will set at 1:02 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 2:30 am, with brighter Jupiter rising at 3:13 am. By 5:30 am they will be low in the southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 