Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 6:34, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:19. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 8:36 this evening.

Let’s look at the bright planets for this week. Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. They are on the evening or east side of the Sun. Bright Jupiter will be low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. It will set at 9 p.m. Jupiter is moving at nearly its fastest to the east now and next year will be where Saturn is currently. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the south-southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 10:40 p.m. Next year it will be a bit farther east. Jupiter is approaching Saturn in our sky. They will cross paths late next year on December 21st, something they do about every 20 years. Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east at 5:51 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 236 million miles (380 million km)

away

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Saturn and the thin crescent Moon shown twice its actual size tonight, October 30 at 7:30 p.m. Created using Stellarium.

The thin crescent Moon with earthshine as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tonight at 7:30 p.m. October 30, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Mars in the morning at 7:30 a.m. October 31, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 7:30 p.m. tonight October 30, 2019. 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 October 30, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 31st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 6:45, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:09. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:24 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the bright planets for this week. Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. They are on the evening or east side of the Sun. Bright Jupiter will be low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. It will set at 9:23 p.m. Jupiter is moving at nearly its fastest to the east now and next year will be where Saturn is now. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the south-southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 11:06 p.m. Next year it will be a bit farther east. Jupiter is approaching Saturn in our sky. They will cross paths late next year on December 21st, something they do about every 20 years. Mars will rise in the east at 6:36 a.m.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Saturn and JUpiter with the Teapot of Sagittarius in the southwest tonight at 8 p.m. October 23, 2019. Created with Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 8 p.m. tonight October 23, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Mars and the Moon at 7 a.m. tomorrow October 24, 2019. At thi scale the program shows the Moon as a blob. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars, including earth shine, at 7 a.m. tomorrow October 24, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 23, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 24th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 9th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 7:09, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:51. The Moon, half way from first quarter to full, will set at 4:22 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the bright planets for this week. Mars, Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus and Mercury are on the evening or east side of the Sun, Mars is on the west or morning side. Bright Jupiter will be low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. Jupiter will set at 10:09 p.m. Jupiter is moving at nearly its fastest to the east now and next year will be where Saturn is now. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the south-southwestern sky in the evening, and set at 11:58 p.m. Next year it will be a bit farther east. Jupiter is approaching Saturn in our sky. They will cross paths late next year, December 21st, something they do about every 20 years.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon at 9 p.m. October 9, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The gibbous Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 9 p.m. October 9, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 9 p.m. October 9, 2019. 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 October 9, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 10th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 2nd. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 40 minutes, setting at 7:21, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:42. The Moon, 3 days before first

quarter, will set at 10:04 this evening.

Let’s look at the bright planets for this week. Mars, Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus and Mercury are on the evening or east side of the Sun, Mars is on the west or morning side. Bright Jupiter will be low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. With steadily held binoculars a few of the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter can be seen. All four: Ganymede, Io and Europa on the east and Callisto far to the west of the planet can be easily spotted in telescopes this evening. Jupiter will set at 10:29 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the south-southwestern sky in the evening, and set at 12:24 a.m. Jupiter is approaching Saturn in our sky. They will cross paths late next year, something they do about every 20 years.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon at 9 p.m. October 2, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

The crescent Moon as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tonight at 9 p.m. October 2, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 9 p.m. October 2, 2019. 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 October 2, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 3rd. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 1 minute, setting at 7:34 p.m., and it will rise tomorrow at 7:34 a.m. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 4:30 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the planets for this week. Mars, Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus and Mercury are on the evening or east side of the Sun, Mars is on the west or morning side. Bright Jupiter will be low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. With steadily held binoculars a few of the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter can be seen. Three of the four Jupiter’s Galilean satellites can be easily spotted in telescopes this evening. The moon Europa will be transiting across the face of the planet. Jupiter will set at 10:53 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southern sky in the evening. It will pass the meridian, due south at 8:25 p.m. and will set at 12:51 a.m.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter and Saturn with the Teapot asterism of Sagittarius of the southern sky at 9 p.m. September 25, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 9 p.m. September 25, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The waning crescent Moon at 6 a.m. September 26, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 25, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 26th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 7:48, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:26. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:11 this evening.

Let’s look at the planets for this week. Mars, Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus and Mercury are on the evening or east side of the Sun, Mars is on the west or morning side. Bright Jupiter will be low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. With steadily held binoculars a few of the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter can be seen. Three of the four Jupiter’s Galilean satellites can be easily spotted in telescopes this evening. The moon Europa will appear very close to the planet. Jupiter will set at 11:21 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southern sky in the evening. It will pass the meridian, due south at 8:52 p.m. and will set at 1:19 a.m.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter and Saturn with the constellations of the southern summer sky at 10 p.m. September 18, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

The waning gibbous Moon at 11 p.m. September 18, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 10 p.m. September 18, 2019. 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 September 18, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 19th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 8:01, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:17. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:29 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the planets for this week. Mars, Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus and Mercury are on the evening or east side of the Sun, Mars is on the west or morning side. Bright Jupiter will be in the south-southwestern sky as it gets dark. With steadily held binoculars a few of the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter can be seen. All four of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites can be spotted in telescopes before 10 this evening. The innermost moon Io will move in front of the planet until after midnight. Jupiter will set before then at 11:46 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southern sky in the evening. It will pass the meridian, due south at 9:20 p.m. and will set at 1:46 a.m.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon with the bright stars of the southern summer sky at 10 p.m. September 11, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The gibbous Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 10 p.m. September 11, 2019. Created using Stellarium.,

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 10 p.m. September 11, 2019. Io starts a transit at 9:58 p.m. or 1:58 tomorrow UT. The shadow begins to cross at 11:15 p.m., 03:15 UT. The transit ends at 12:10 a.m., 4:10 UT, after Jupiter sets for observers in the listening area. The moons are much dimmer than what shows here so spotting the moon against the face of Jupiter is difficult. 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 September 11, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 12th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 5 minutes, setting at 8:14, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:09. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 11:32 this evening.

Let’s look at the planets for this week. Mars, Venus and Mercury are too close to the Sun to be seen. Venus and Mercury are on the evening or east side of the Sun, Mars is on the west or morning side. Bright Jupiter will be in the south-southwestern sky as it gets dark. With steadily held binoculars a few of the 4 largest satellites of Jupiter can be seen. Three of the four of Jupiter’s Galilean satellites can be spotted in telescopes early this evening tonight. However the innermost moon Io will move from in front of the planet at 10:15 p.m. Jupiter will set at 12:11 a.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southern sky in the evening. It will pass the meridian, due south at 9:48 p.m. and will set at 2:14 a.m.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon with the bright stars of the southern summer sky at 10 p.m. September 4, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The crescent Moon as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tonight at 10 p.m. September 4, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 10 p.m. September 4, 2019. Io started a transit at 8:03 p.m. or 0:03 tomorrow UT, not visible from here. The shadow begins to cross Jupiter at 9:21 p.m., 01:21 UT. The transit ends at 10:15 p.m., 2:15 UT. The shadow leaves the planet at 11:33 p.m., 3:33 UT. The moons are much dimmer than what shows here so spotting the moon and shadow against the face of Jupiter is difficult. The Great Red Spot will cross Jupiter’s central meridian at 10:17 p.m., 2:17 UT.  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 September 4, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 5th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.