Archive
02/19/2015 – Ephemeris – Jupiter is beginning to take its rightful place as king of the evening sky
Ephemeris for Friday, February 19th. The Sun will rise at 7:37. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 38 minutes, setting at 6:16. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 6:10 tomorrow morning.
Jupiter is becoming noticeable in the evening sky in the east after 8 p.m. The heavy atmosphere near the horizon make telescopic observations difficult because the planet and its satellites will appear fuzzy and have color fringes top and bottom. Wait an hour or two for the planet to rise higher into quieter and thinner air to get the best telescopic views. Jupiter is accompanied by four moons in telescopes. Tonight they’re on one side of Jupiter, with Io closest, then Europa and Ganymede close to each other, while Callisto as usual appears to be the farthest satellite. The face of Jupiter itself is crossed by dark belts and light zones that run in the same direction as the satellites orbit. The moons change position from night to night.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, the Moon and stars tonight at 10 p.m., February 19, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
This image is shown smaller than actual size. Image expansion lately hasn’t worked. If you are using Firefox, right-click on the image, and then click on View Image.
Jupiter and its moons tonight, 10 p.m. February 19, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its four Galilean moons. The planet has to be over exposed to pick up the moons. But the eye can handle the brightness difference with no problem. This is one of my old pictures I do believe.
Jupiter with its Great Red Spot November 18, 2012 by Scott Anttila.
The above image by Scott Anttila is actually much better that the image seen in small telescopes. Advances in digital photography and processing allow the stacking and averaging of many images to create better pictures by amateur astronomers with modest equipment than the best telescopes of a quarter century ago.
12/08/2015 – Ephemeris – The hard charging Taurus the bull
Ephemeris for Tuesday, December 8th. The Sun will rise at 8:07. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 6:03 tomorrow morning.
Low in the east at 9 p.m. is the constellation of Orion the giant hunter . Above him is Taurus the bull. His face is a letter V shape of stars lying on its side with the bright orange-red star Aldebaran at the bottom left tip of the V as its angry blood-shot eye. Orion is depicted in the sky facing with club in one hand and a shield in the other the approaching and in some depictions charging Taurus. The V of stars is a star cluster called the Hyades. The Pleiades are in his shoulder above. Taurus in Greek mythology was the guise the god Zeus when he carried off the maiden Europa. Europa’s still with him, sort of, as the intriguing satellite orbiting Zeus’ Roman equivalent Jupiter. In fact the moons around the planet Jupiter are generally named for Jupiter’s lovers and friends. His wife is missing from the entourage, and will be until the NASA spacecraft Juno reaches Jupiter next year.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Three views of Taurus the bull and Orion the hunter for 9 p.m. on December 8, 2015. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
05/06/2015 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is planet day or night on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 8:53. The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:26 this evening. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:24.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mercury is low in the west-northwestern sky after sunset. It’s at a 21 degrees angle from the sun and will set at 10:52. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9:30 p.m. It will set at 12:37 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky before 10 p.m. It will set at 3:05 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. In telescopes, Jupiter’s moon Europa will pass in front of Jupiter starting at 1:43 a.m. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 10:33 p.m. It will be low in the south as morning twilight brightens. It’s rings and the moon Titan can be seen in small telescopes.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the setting stars of winter at 10 p.m., May 6, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons at 10 p.m. May 6, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn above the southeastern horizon with the stars of late spring at 11 p.m. May 6, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope the night of May 6-7, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/22/2015 – Ephemeris – All the bright planets are back now
Ephemeris for Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 8:36. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 12:55 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:45.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mars and Mercury are in conjunction, that is close to each other low in the west just after sunset. Mars appears a bit lower and left of the brighter Mercury. Mars will set tonight at 9:47 with Mercury 5 minutes later. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9 p.m. It will set at 12:15 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the southwestern sky in the evening. It will set at 3:58 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 11:03 p.m. It will be low in the south at 5 to 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
View to the west with Mars, Mercury, Venus and the Moon at 9:15 p.m. April 22, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, the Moon and the setting winter constellations at 10 p.m. April 22, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The visibility of the Moon at 10 p.m. on April 22, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Jupiter and its moons at 10 p.m. Europa will be transiting the face of Jupiter. It’s shadow will start to cross the face of Jupiter at 11:04 p.m.. The transit will end at 11:27 p.m. and the shadow will leave the face of Jupiter at 1:58 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn rising. Shown at midnight, April 22-23 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and the summer constellations at 5:45 a.m. April 23, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 5:45 a.m., April 23, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/15/2015 – Ephemeris – Besides Tax Day, it’s planets day on Ephemeris
Wednesday, April 15th, Tax Day. The Sun rises at 6:58. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 8:27. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:44 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9 p.m. It will set at 12:06 a.m. Mars appears much lower and to the right of it. The Red Planet will set tonight at 9:48. Jupiter will appear high in the southern sky in the evening. It will set at 4:25 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. All four moons will be visible in telescopes tonight, Europa will be on the western side of Jupiter casting it’s shadow on the planet in the evening. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 11:32 p.m. It will be low in the south at 5 to 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Note: Due to some incorrect calculations the Jupiter moon phenomena in the broadcast program was in error. This transcript corrects that.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and Mars and remaining winter constellations at 9:30 p.m. April 15, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons as they would appear in a telescope at 9:30 p.m. April 15, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Closeup of Jupiter and Europa with its shadow cast on Jupiter at 9:30 p.m. April 15, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Saturn and the evening stars of summer at 5:30 a.m. April 16, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 5:30 a.m., April 16, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/01/2015 – Ephemeris – No fooling, it’s time to look at the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for April Fools Day, Wednesday, April 1st. The Sun will rise at 7:24. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 45 minutes, setting at 8:10. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 6:29 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Brilliant Venus is in the west by 8:40 p.m. It will set at 11:23 p.m. Mars appears much lower and to the right of it. The Red Planet will set tonight at 9:48. Jupiter will appear In the southeastern sky in the evening. It will set at 5:20 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. All four moons will be visible in telescopes tonight, but tomorrow morning the moon Io will duck behind Jupiter at 2:55, but will not pop into sunlight until after Jupiter sets. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 12:30 a.m. It will be low in the south at 5 to 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon, evening planets and bright constellations at 9:30 p.m. April 1, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter as seen in a telescope at 9:30 p.m. April 1, 2014. Europa will partially occult Io starting at 9:41 p.m. for 4 minutes. They will appear to merge. Later at 11:21 p.m. Io will be partially eclipsed in Europa’s shadow for about 4 minutes. Europa will dim slightly. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The Moon at 9:30 p.m. April 1, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Saturn, the Moon with Scorpius and Leo at 5:30 a.m. April 2, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 5:30 a.m., April 2, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
03/12/2015 – Ephemeris – Tonight’s a big night for Jovian satellite events
Ephemeris for Thursday, March 12th. The Sun will rise at 8:01. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 7:44. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 2:40 tomorrow morning.
Tonight will be a busy one in Jupiter’s system for those watching with telescopes. As it gets dark Jupiter’s moon Io will be in front of Jupiter and very difficult to spot. It’s shadow may be seen as a tiny inky black dot on the face of the planet. Io will move off the planet at 8:55 p.m., This will be followed by the shadow at 9:42 p.m. The fun isn’t over because the moon Europa will be appearing to approach Jupiter as Io leaves it. Europa will disappear behind Jupiter at 12:06 a.m. It will stay hidden until 4:32 a.m. Europe will clear the planet earlier, but will still be in Jupiter’s shadow until 4:32. When a moon’s in shadow, it is said to be eclipsed. When behind the planet it is occulted and when in front of Jupiter it is in transit.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Io transit end at 8:55 p.m., March 12, 2015. Note Io’s shadow will leave the face of Jupiter at 9:32 p.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Io passes Europa about 10:20 p.m. March 12, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Europa’s occultation begins at 12:06 a.m., March 13, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Europa emerges from eclipse by Jupiter’s shadow at 4:32 a.m., March 13, 2015. Note that Ganymede has entered the picture. It appeared to pass Io at about 3:30 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
12/10/2014 – Ephemeris – Two holdout planets in the evening sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 10th. The sun will rise at 8:08. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 9:23 this evening.
In reviewing which planets are visible tonight, it looks like we’re still down to two. Venus, Saturn and Mercury are still hanging near the direction of the Sun. It will be a little while before we see them again. However we can see Mars, which will be low in the southwest at 7 p.m. It will set at 8:30 p.m. Mars’ setting time will slowly advance 5 minutes between now and the end of the year. Normal setting times for stars and planets decrease by 4 minutes a night or about a half hour a week. Mars is moving northeastward in the sky and is counteracting that. Jupiter will rise at 10 p.m. in the east-northeast. The best views in a telescope may have to wait for at least an hour after that. Jupiter is a wonderful sight in a telescope.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 7 p.m. December 10, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon low in the east at 11 p.m. December 10, 2014. On the evening of the 11th the Moon will appear below Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
The moon as it would appear in binoculars at 11p.m. December 10, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moon as seen in a telescope. at 11 p.m. December 10, 2014. Note that Europa and Ganymede appear very close. They will move closer until 5 a.m. when they will appear at their closest. Created using Stellarium.
12/03/2014 – Ephemeris – Bright planets: One early and one late
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 3rd. The sun will rise at 8:01. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 1 minute, setting at 5:03. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:48 tomorrow morning.
In reviewing which planets are visible tonight, it looks like we’re still down to two. Venus, Saturn and Mercury are hanging around near the direction of the Sun. It will be a little while before we see them again. However we can see Mars, which will be low in the southwest at 7 p.m. It will set at 8:29 p.m. Mars’ setting time will slowly advance only 6 minutes between now and the end of the year. Jupiter will rise at 10:28 p.m. in the east-northeast. The best telescopic views will have to wait a couple of hours after that. So if you’re more of an early bird rather than a night owl it might be better to view Jupiter with a telescope in the morning. Jupiter has those four bright moons that change position daily, and sometimes while you watch.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars in the southwest at 7 p.m. December 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
A binocular view of what the moon will look like at 7 p.m. December 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter rising with the winter constellations at 11 p.m., December 3, 2014. We’re actually looking at the eastern half of the sky. Created using Stellarium.
At 6 a.m. December 4, 2014 Jupiter and the winter constellations will swing into the southwest while out of the view the spring and early summer stars take over the eastern sky. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter at 6 a.m. December 4, 2014. The moons on the left in order from left to right are Callisto, Ganymede and Europa. In the next hour the moons will appear to get even closer together, especially Ganymede and Callisto. Created using Stellarium.
01/09/2014 – Ephemeris – More on Jupiter’s Galilean moons.
Ephemeris for Thursday, January 9th. The sun will rise at 8:18. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 5:21. The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:20 tomorrow morning.
The planet Jupiter has, as of the latest count, 67 satellites or moons. However only four can be seen in small to medium-sized telescopes. Astronomers use the term moon and satellite interchangeably, though only moons orbit planets. A satellite is a more generic term and is a smaller body that orbits another larger body. Though we don’t usually call an artificial satellite orbiting the Earth a moon. Anyway, the four bright moons of Jupiter are called the Galilean moons, because Galileo discovered then in early 1610. Their names from Jupiter on out are Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. They orbit over Jupiter’s equator. Since the planet has a very small axial tilt the moons seem to move back and forth from one side to the other of Jupiter in a nearly straight line.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and its four Galilean moons. The planet has to be over exposed to pick up the moons. But the eye can handle the brightness difference with no problem. This is one of my old pictures I do believe.
Jupiter with a solar eclipse in progress as Ganymede, lower left, casts its shadow on Jupiter on November 14, 2011 at about 10:15 p.m.. Credit: Scott Anttila.
The moon Io is off to the far left. This eclipse can be simulated with Cartes du Ciel.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 