Archive
10/06/2016 Ephemeris – Viewing the Moon tonight
Ephemeris for Thursday, October 6th. The Sun will rise at 7:47. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 7:13. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 10:44 this evening.
Tonight the waxing crescent Moon will appear between Saturn on the right and Mars on the left. In a small telescope the Sea of Tranquility is now mostly in daylight. The Sun will rise on the Apollo 11 landing site about one this afternoon. The landing site cannot be seen from the Earth, it’s artifacts are too small. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has to get down to about 15 miles altitude to photograph them. The craters of Theophilus, Cyrillus and Catharina are seen to the south of Tranquility. Just south of them there looks like a wrinkle in the Moon surface. It’s the Altai Scarp, which is named for the Altai mountains of central Asia. The three craters border the small Sea of Nectar. The lunar seas are basins of solidified lava.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Moon Chart for tonight (October 6, 2016) at 9 p.m. showing the areas discussed above. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.’
The Apollo 11 landing site in one photograph by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. There are many with varying Sun angles in the Internet. Search for: Apollo 11 LRO images. Credit NASA.
10/04/2016 – Ephemeris – The bright planets score: three in the evening and one in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 5th. The Sun will rise at 7:46. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 7:15. The Moon, 4 days before first quarter, will set at 10:04 this evening.
Mercury is seen in the morning now, rising at 6:21 today, and should be high enough to be visible between 7 and 7:30 this morning low in the east if it’s clear. Venus, Saturn and Mars are in the evening sky. Venus is briefly visible after sunset, low in the west-southwest. It will set at 8:28 p.m., following the Sun’s earlier setting times. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the southwestern sky in a lengthening triangle, with Saturn on top and Antares below. Mars is way out to the left of the other two. Tonight Saturn will be about 10 of the Moon’s diameter to the left of the crescent Moon. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 10 p.m. and Mars will set at 11:18 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury in the east at 7 a.m. this morning, October 5, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, low in west-southwest with the Moon (enlarged to show phase), Saturn and Mars at 7:35 p.m. (20 minutes after sunset). Created using Stellarium.
The Moon, Saturn, Antares and Mars with the low constellations in the southwest at 8:30 p.m. October 5, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 8:30 p.m. October 5, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 8:30 p.m. October 5, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 5, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on October 6. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/16/2016 – Ephemeris – The Harvest Moon is slightly eclipsed for everyone but the Americas
Ephemeris for Friday, September 16th. The Sun will rise at 7:23. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 7:50. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 7:59 this evening.
Tonight’s full Moon is the Harvest Moon, the nearest full Moon to the autumnal equinox. For the next few nights the Moon will rise later each night by much less than the average 50 minutes later each night effectively lengthening twilight for those gathering in crops. Also this afternoon there will be a penumbral lunar eclipse visible, well not here in Michigan… because the Moon won’t be up. Actually just about the whole world except North America and most of South America will be able to see the eclipse. A penumbral eclipse is what I call a 5 o’clock shadow eclipse. You wouldn’t know it unless someone pointed it out to you, when the Moon dips into the Earth’s outer shadow and the sunlight falling part of it is diminished by a little bit.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The not so full Moon of Monday night and its reflection on the waters of Suttons Bay after the schooner Inland Seas docked after an evening sail. Credit: the author.
The penumbral eclipse of the Moon centered on 2:25 p.m. Eastern time, 18:54 UT, for an hour and a half before and after. Only near the middle of the eclipse will anything be visible of the effect. I find that wearing sunglasses reduces the brightness of the moon and enhances the penumbral shadow. Credit: NASA/GSFC/ Fred Espenak.
For the full-page pdf of the above click here: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEplot/LEplot2001/LE2016Sep16N.pdf
09/08/2016 – Ephemeris – The Moon tonight: Two mountain ranges
Ephemeris for Thursday, September 8th. The Sun will rise at 7:14. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 8:05. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:07 tomorrow morning.
The planet Saturn will appear below the nearly first quarter Moon tonight. The southern part of the Moon shows lots of craters in a pair of binoculars or small telescope. The area is called the lunar highlands. Most of the northern part of the Moon contains the lunar seas or maria. There is some interesting terrain there for the small telescope, including the mountain range the Alps to the North and the Apennines south of them. Lunar mountain ranges are named after Earthly ones. The two ranges are part of the broken ramparts around Mare Imbrium, the large Sea of Showers. In it are a few large craters that were created by impacts since the sea itself was created by a huge asteroid impact over 3.8 billion years ago.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon tonight at 9 p.m. September 8, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
A closer look at the emerging mountains on the Moon at 9 p.m. September 8, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
More of these mountains will be revealed in coming nights.
09/06/2016 – Ephemeris – The prominent lunar crater Theophilus
Ephemeris for Tuesday, September 6th. The Sun will rise at 7:11. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 8:09. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 10:55 this evening.
The Moon’s terminator, the sunrise line, is half-way across the Sea of Tranquility on our satellite’s equator. Below that is a distinctive crater just coming into light. It’s prominent enough to spot in binoculars. It’s name is Theophilus. The name is familiar with those familiar with the New Testament of the Bible, as the person that the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles is addressed to. However that isn’t who the crater is named for, but for the Patriarch of Alexandria of the late 4th century. The two other large craters south of Theophilus that will be visible tomorrow are named for two other Orthodox saints of Alexandria. They were named by Giovanni Riccioli a 17th century astronomer and priest, who named many other craters.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon at 9 p.m. September 6, 2016 showing the crater Theophilus. Created using the Virtual Moon Atlas.
When Theophilus is on the terminator as it is tonight the Sun may touch the crater rim and the central peaks, while the crater floor is still in shadow. It’s a cool sight.
Three Alexandrian saints, Theophilus, Cyrillus, and Catharina (St Catherine) immortalized on the Moon. Created using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter texture on the Virtual Moon Atlas.
Note that Cyrillus has very low crater walls and is hard to see unless the sun angle is low near lunar sunrise of sunset.
08/18/2016 – Ephemeris – Viewing the full Moon tonight
Ephemeris for Thursday, August 18th. The Sun rises at 6:49. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 8:42. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 8:54 this evening.
The full moon, contrary to what you’d think is a poor time to observe it. The moon is essentially gray on gray. And at full moon we are looking at the moon from about the same perspective as the sun, so there are no shadows to delineate its fine features. Since the actual instant of full moon occurred at 5:27 this morning, some shadows will be creeping in on the moon’s upper right face as it is seen in the evening. Full moon is the best time to see the maria or lunar seas, the dark areas that make up the man in the moon. In binoculars can be seen the bright rays* emanating from the crater Tycho near the south end of the moon. Other craters have rays too, but none so long and distinctive. Night by night for the next two weeks the moon’s illuminated landscape will wane.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
* Rays are caused by the ejecta from the impact that created the crater. They are thought to be small craters themselves which show up best at full moon because they have no shadows in them.
Addendum
The full Moon taken last night, 7 hours before to was officially full. The contrast was greatly enhanced to bring out Tycho’s ray system. Credit Bob Moler.
08/17/2016 – Ephemeris – Two groups of evening planets are visible
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 17th. The Sun rises at 6:48. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 8:44. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 7:01 tomorrow morning.
Tonight we still have all the bright classical planets in the evening sky. Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are very low in the west and will set at 9:32, 9:34 and 9:51 p.m. respectively. Jupiter is above Mercury with Venus to the right or Mercury in the evening twilight. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the south-southwestern sky as a tightening triangle, moving to the southwest during the evening. Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars is below Saturn with brighter Mars to the right and closing in on Antares. In 6 days Mars will pass just above Antares with Saturn above all in a nearly straight line. Mars, moving rapidly to the east against the stars will set at 12:30 a.m. Saturn, is spectacular in telescopes, with its rings. It will set at 1:06 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury and Jupiter at 9:18 p.m. (30 minutes after sunset), August 17, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The planets, and Moon at 10 p.m., August 17, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 10 p.m. August 17, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars tonight, August 17, 2016 at 10 p.m. Tonight the Moon is only a bit more than 7 hours from being full. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 17, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 18. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/10/2016 – Ephemeris – The planets tonight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 10th. The Sun rises at 6:39. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 8:55. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 12:55 tomorrow morning.
Today we turn from the small meteoroids that orbit the Sun that are producing the Perseid Meteor Shower to the larger members of the solar family, namely the bright planets. Venus and Mercury are very low in the west-northwest and will set at 9:44 and 9:50 p.m. respectively. Jupiter is in the west in the evening. It will set at 10:19 p.m. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the south-southwestern sky as a tightening triangle, moving to the southwest during the evening. Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars is below Saturn with brighter Mars to the right. The Red Planet is back in Scorpius. It will set at 12:46 a.m. Mars is moving rapidly to the east against the stars. Saturn is spectacular in telescopes, with its rings. Saturn will set at 1:34 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury and Jupiter at 9:25 p.m. (30 minutes after sunset), August 10, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The planets, Moon and constellations at 10 p.m., August 10, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars tonight, August 10, 2016 at 10 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its moons at 10 p.m. August 10, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 10, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 11. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. Also shown is the Perseid meteor shower radiant. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
Also shown is the Perseid meteor shower radiant.
08/03/2016 – Ephemeris – Jupiter is slipping toward the setting Sun
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 3rd. The Sun rises at 6:31. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:05. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:29 this evening.
Venus and Mercury are in the evening sky but too close to the Sun to be easily seen. Check below for more information on the apparent interactions between the two. Jupiter will join the fray later this month. Jupiter is in the west in the evening. It will set at 10:44 p.m. Mars starts the evening in the south-southwestern sky, moving to the southwest. It’s right of its dimmer look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. The Red Planet is back in Scorpius. The planet will set at 1:07 a.m. Mars is resuming its rapid eastward motion against the stars. The ringed planet Saturn is low in the south. It’s to the left of Mars. Saturn will pass due south at 9:25 p.m. and will set at 2:02 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury the day old Moon (not really visible) and Jupiter at 9:25 p.m. (20 minutes after sunset), August 3, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Spotting the Moon and these planets requires a Lake Michigan horizon and may be futile. The farther one is to the south the greater the angle that the line of planets make with the horizon. This is not a good apparition of Mercury for us, but a good one for folks in the southern hemisphere.
The planets and constellations at 10 p.m., August 3, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its satellites at 10 p.m., August 3, 2016. It will be close to the horizon and fuzzy in telescopes. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 10 p.m. August 3, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 3, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 4. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/19/2016 – Ephemeris – The bright Moon is seen low in the summer
Ephemeris for Tuesday, July 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 9:22, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:16. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 9:00 this evening.
In the summer time the moon appears to be seen low in the south. If you can remember back six month to winter and where the bright moon was then. It was very high in the sky then. The reason for the difference in altitude of the bright moon is that the Moon follows closely the Sun’s yearly track against the stars. That track is the ecliptic, along which the constellations of the Zodiac lie. The Moon’s own orbit of the Earth departs from that by five degrees. Tonight the Moon will be about 3 degrees, or 6 Moon diameters above of north of that line. The full Moon happens to be in the same place, plus or minus up to five degrees north or south of where the Sun was 6 months ago or will be 6 months hence.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon is low in the south on July 20, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon is high in the south on January 23, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
These images are the same scale.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 