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Ephemeris: 11/02/2023 – Jupiter is at opposition from the Sun tonight
This is Ephemeris for Thursday, November 2nd. The Sun will rise at 8:21. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 6:30. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 9:57 this evening.
Tonight the planet Jupiter is at opposition from the Sun. It is the time when the Earth is directly between the Sun and Jupiter, so that Jupiter rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. So for the next 6 or so months Jupiter will be in the evening sky and officially an evening planet. To the naked eye Jupiter is the second brightest planet after Venus and without Venus in the sky it may be mistaken for Jupiter. In binoculars Jupiter appears very bright and not quite star-like. It also has several of its moons that are visible in binoculars. These are its Galilean moons discovered by Galileo back in 1609. In telescopes four can be seen although not all of them may be visible at one time because the moons move back and forth from one side to the other of the planet.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum

Follow Jupiter’s moons with this tool: Sky & Telescope’s Interactive Tool for Observing Jupiter’s Moons.
Ephemeris: 11/01/2023 – It’s 11/1, do you know where your naked-eye planets are?
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 1st. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 6:31. The Moon, halfway from full to last quarter, will rise at 8:58 this evening.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week. Three of those five planets are now visible, but Mars and Mercury set too close to sunset to be seen. Saturn is the sole official evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast to south in the evening. And it will still be visible in the morning hours until it sets at 2:21 am. Saturn is seen against the stars of Aquarius this year and next. Jupiter and Venus are the visible morning planets. Jupiter, still a morning planet for one more day, will rise at 6:34 pm. It’s in Aries this year. Jupiter has to rise before sunset to be an evening planet. Venus, the brilliant morning star, will rise in the east-northeast at 4:18 am.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 10/25/2023 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to?
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 6:42, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:12. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:16 tomorrow morning.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week. Three of those five planets are now visible, but Mars sets too close to sunset to be seen, and Mercury rises too close to sunrise. Saturn is the sole official evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast to south in the evening. And it will still be visible in the morning hours until it sets at 2:49 am. Saturn is seen against the stars of Aquarius this year and next. Jupiter and Venus are the visible morning planets. Jupiter, still a morning planet for one more week, will rise at 7:04 pm. It’s in Aries this year. Jupiter has to rise before sunset to be an evening planet. Venus, the brilliant morning star, will rise in the east-northeast at 4:09 am.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 10/18/2023 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 6:53, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:03. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 8:50 this evening.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week. Three of those five planets are now visible, but Mars sets too close to sunset to be seen, and Mercury rises too close to sunrise, and besides it will enter the evening sky after Friday. Saturn is the sole official evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast to south in the evening. And it will still be visible in the morning hours until it sets at 3:17 am. Saturn is seen against the stars of Aquarius this year and next. Jupiter and Venus are the visible morning planets. Jupiter, still a morning planet, will rise at 7:34 pm. It’s in Aries this year. Jupiter has to rise before sunset to be an evening planet. Venus, the brilliant morning star, will rise in the east-northeast at 4:02 am.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 10/11/2023 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?
This is Ephemeris for International Day of the Girl, Wednesday, October 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 7:05, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:54. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:35 tomorrow morning.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week. Three of those five planets are now visible, but Mars sets too close to sunset to be seen, and Mercury rises too close to sunrise. Saturn is the sole official evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast in the evening. And it will still be visible in the morning hours until it sets at 3:46 am. Saturn is seen against the stars of Aquarius this year and next. Jupiter and Venus are the visible morning planets. Jupiter, still a morning planet, will rise at 8:04 pm. It’s in Ares this year. It has to rise before sunset to be an official evening planet. Venus, the brilliant morning star, will rise in the east-northeast at 3:57 am, and be seen in the east thereafter.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 10/04/2023 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 7:18, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:45. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:18 this evening.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week. Three of those five planets are now visible, but Mars sets too close to sunset to be seen, and Mercury rises too late. Saturn is the sole evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast in the evening. And it will still be visible most of the morning hours morning until it sets at 4:15 am. Saturn is in retrograde or westward motion now, against the stars of Aquarius, and will continue to do so until November 5th. Jupiter and Venus are the visible morning planets. Jupiter, in Aries, will rise at 8:29 pm. It, like Saturn is in retrograde, which will last the rest of this year. Venus is our brilliant morning star which will rise in the east-northeast at 3:56 am.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 09/27/2023 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 7:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:36. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:22 tomorrow morning.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week. Four of those five planets are now visible, but Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen. Saturn is the sole evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast in the evening. And it will still be visible throughout the morning hours until it sets at 4:44 am. Saturn is in retrograde or westward motion now, against the stars of Aquarius. Jupiter, Venus and Mercury are the morning planets. Jupiter will rise at 9:02 pm. It, like Saturn is moving retrograde, which will last the rest of this year. Venus is our brilliant morning star, at its brightest, and will rise in the east-northeast at 3:59 am. Tiny Mercury will rise at 6:10 am, and be visible in the east by around 6:30.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum



Ephemeris: 09/20/2023 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 17 minutes, setting at 7:44, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:28. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:10 this evening.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to. Four of those five planets are now visible, but Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen. Saturn is the sole evening planet visible. It can be spotted in the southeast in the evening. And it will still be visible throughout the morning hours until it sets at 5:15 am. Saturn is in retrograde or westward motion now, against the stars of Aquarius. Jupiter, Venus and Mercury are the morning planets. Jupiter will rise at 9:35 pm. It is a week into its retrograde motion, which will last the rest of this year. Venus is our brilliant morning star, at its brightest, and will rise in the east-northeast at 4:07 am. Tiny Mercury will have risen by 6 am, and be visible in the east by around 6:30.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 09/06/2023 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets and comet Nishimura have wandered off to
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 8:10, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:12. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 11:40 this evening.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to. Three of those five planets are now visible but Mars and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Saturn is the sole evening planet visible. Jupiter and Venus are officially the only visible morning planets. Saturn can be spotted in the southeast in the evening. And it will still be visible throughout the morning hours morning until twilight starts. Saturn is in retrograde or westward motion against the stars of Aquarius. Jupiter will rise at 10:54pm. It is slowing its eastward motion and will become stationary tomorrow. Venus is our brilliant morning star. It will rise at 4:43 tomorrow morning. Comet Nishimura is left and a bit below Venus in the east-northeast.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum




Ephemeris: 08/30/2023 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets are
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 20 minutes, setting at 8:23, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:03. The Moon, is the full Blue Moon today, and it will rise at 8:39 this evening. No, it’s not really blue in color. The Blue Moon is the second full moon in a particular month.
Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets are. Three of those five planets are now visible. Mars and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Saturn is the sole evening planet visible. Jupiter and Venus are officially the only visible morning planets. Saturn can be spotted in the southeast in the evening. And it will still be visible throughout the morning hours until just before sunrise. Tonight Saturn will appear above and right of the full moon, though it might be difficult to spot in the Moon’s glare. Saturn is in retrograde or westward motion now, against the stars of Aquarius. Jupiter will rise at 10:54pm. It is slowing its eastward motion and will become stationary on September 7th. Venus is making an appearance in the morning sky now as our brilliant morning star. It will rise at 5:13 tomorrow morning.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum





The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on August 30, 2023. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 31st. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.









