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Ephemeris: 12/31/2025 – A last look at the naked-eye planets for 2025
This is Ephemeris for New Year’s Eve, Wednesday, December 31st. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 5:12. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 6:49 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our last weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets for 2025. Saturn is the brightest star-like object in the southwestern sky as soon as it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn sports a very thin ring, one degree from being edge on and is slowly opening. Jupiter will rise at 5:54 PM in the east-northeast, below and right of Castor and Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini. The giant planet is slowly moving westward with its retrograde motion. Jupiter’s 4 brightest moons can be seen even in binoculars, and shift position night to night. In the morning sky, only Jupiter can be seen, descending in the western sky. It will leave the morning sky, officially on January 10th, as it reaches opposition with the Sun.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 12/25/2025 – Christmas night stars
Merry Christmas! This is Ephemeris for Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:07, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:19. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 11:01 this evening.
The real star of Bethlehem is probably not what is popularly depicted as a bright star in the sky, rather it was something subtle, only noticed by some astrologers. However, gracing our skies tonight we do have, in the evening, a brilliant star-like object, and our usual winter sprinkling of bright real stars in the southeastern sky. I call the one star-like because it’s a planet, Jupiter to be specific. The term “planet” we get from the Greeks, meaning wanderer. Planets don’t actually wander. Their paths can be determined, and are affected by the Sun, mainly and the other planet’s gravitational attraction. Perhaps the Magi, thought the cause was by divine action, to set them on their journey. Again have a Merry Christmas!
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 12/24/2025 – Taking our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets
This is Ephemeris for Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:18. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 9:51 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Saturn is the brightest star-like object in the southwestern sky as soon as it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn sports a very thin ring, eight tenths of a degree from being edge on and slowly opening. Jupiter will rise at 6:26 PM in the east-northeast, below Castor and Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini. The giant planet is slowly moving westward with its retrograde motion. Jupiter’s 4 brightest moons can be seen even in binoculars, and shift position night to night. In the morning sky, only Jupiter can be seen, descending in the western sky. It will leave the morning sky, officially on January 10th, as it reaches opposition to the Sun.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
A note about transits of Jovian moons: A transiting moon is extremely difficult to pick up, however the moon’s shadow falling on the planet is much more easily spotted.
Ephemeris: 12/23/2025 – An alternate possibility of the Star of Bethlehem
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Tuesday, December 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:18. The Moon, halfway from new to first quarter, will set at 8:40 this evening.
Many writers of the early church place Jesus’ birth around 2 BC, which had to be before Herod the Great’s death, which I suggest was in 1 BC marked by a total lunar eclipse, rather than the 4 BC partial lunar eclipse, normally accepted. In 3 and again in 2 BC there were star-like conjunctions or apparent joining of the planets Jupiter and Venus against the backdrop of the constellation of Leo the Lion. A lion is related to Judah, son of Jacob by a blessing the latter gave his sons in Genesis. The first conjunction occurred in the morning sky of August, 3 BC. In June the next year the two planets got together again, in the evening sky, just after Jesus would have been born in the lambing season, when shepherds would be guarding their flocks at night.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 12/22/2025 – The most popular astronomical explanation for the Star of Bethlehem
This is Ephemeris for Monday, December 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:05, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:18. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 7:30 this evening.
This year we have a bright evening Christmas star, Jupiter in the east. But what about the one described in the Bible, in the Gospel of Matthew? We will look today at the first of two events that may have been recorded as the Star of Bethlehem. In 7 BCE there was a rare event over 6 months when three times the planet Jupiter passed Saturn against the stars of the constellation Pisces. Could the Persian astrologer priests, called Magi, have read into the event enough significance to start the journey to Jerusalem in search of the newborn King of the Jews? It was the scribe’s readings that sent them to Bethlehem. Jupiter, Saturn and Pisces all may have had significance to the Magi.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 12/17/2025 – Taking our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:03, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:15. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 7:26 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Saturn is the brightest star-like object in the southern sky as soon as it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn sports a very thin ring, six tenths of a degree from being edge on and slowly opening. In a couple of months the rings will be much more visible in telescopes. Jupiter will rise at 7:02 PM in the east-northeast, below Castor and Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini. Jupiter’s 4 brightest moons can be seen even in binoculars, and shift position night to night. In the morning sky, Mercury just might be spotted very low in the east-southeast by 7:30. The next opportunity to spot Mercury will be in the evening in mid-February.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EST, UT – 5 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 12/10/2025 – Taking a look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 10th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:10. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:45 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Saturn is the brightest star-like object in the southern sky as soon as it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn sports a very thin ring, half a degree from being edge on and slowly opening. Normally, I’d say that Saturn’s rings are easy to see in a telescope. In a couple of months the rings will be much more visible in telescopes. Jupiter will rise at 7:29 PM in the east-northeast, beneath Castor and Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini. Jupiter’s 4 brightest moons can be seen even in binoculars, and shift position night to night. Tonight they will all be in line on one side of the planet. Mercury might be spotted very low in the east-southeast by 7 AM tomorrow morning.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 12/03/2025 – Taking our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 3rd. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:03. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 7:59 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Saturn is the brightest star-like object in the southern sky as soon as it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn sports a very thin ring, 4/10ths of a degree from being edge on. The rings are slowly opening up. Normally, I’d say that Saturn’s rings are easy to see in a telescope. In a couple of months the rings will be much more visible in telescopes. Jupiter will rise at 8 PM in the east-northeast, beneath Castor and Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini. Jupiter’s 4 brightest moons can even be seen in binoculars, and shift position night to night. Mercury might be spotted low in the east-southeast by 7 AM tomorrow morning, having risen 45 minutes earlier.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 11/26/2025 – Checking out the naked eye planets
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 26th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 5:05, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:55. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:49 this evening.
Pausing my exploration of AI to check out the naked eye planets this week. Mars and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Saturn is the brightest star like object in the southeastern sky as soon as it gets dark. In a telescope Saturn sports a very thin ring, 4/10ths of a degree from being edge on. In 4 days the rings will slowly start to open up. Normally, I’d say that Saturn’s rings are easy to see in a telescope. Currently, the rings appear extremely thin and can be difficult to pick up. Jupiter will rise at 8:29 PM in the east-northeast. Beneath Castor and Pollux, the bright stars of Gemini. By 7 AM, it will appear high in the west southwest, above the stars Procyon below and Sirius, near the horizon. Venus will rise at 7:04 in the east southeast and will probably not be visible.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 11/21/2025 – Finding Taurus the bull
This is Ephemeris for Friday, November 21st. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 5:09, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:49. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 5:36 this evening.
Low in the east at 8 this evening and below the beautiful Pleiades star cluster is Taurus the bull. His face is a letter V shape of stars lying on its side, the star cluster Hyades, which in Greek Mythology were the half-sisters of the Pleiades, with the bright orange-red star Aldebaran at one tip of the V as its angry bloodshot eye. Aldebaran is actually about halfway between us and the cluster. The Pleiades star cluster is in his shoulder. Taurus is seen charging downward at that hour, the rising constellation of Orion. Taurus in Greek mythology was the form the god Zeus assumed when he carried off the maiden Europa. Europa’s still with him as a moon orbiting Zeus’ Roman counterpart, the planet Jupiter.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
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