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02/20/2019 – Ephemeris – Theoretical all 5 bright planets are now visible
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 42 minutes, setting at 6:18, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:34. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 7:47 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. We have two evening planets visible now. Tiny and elusive Mercury should be visible low in the west for about a half hour after 7 p.m. It should be visible for a little over a week. Binoculars are a big help in spotting it. Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:46 p.m. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 3:32 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness. Saturn will be next to rise at 5:22 a.m. It is just to the right of Venus which will rise at 5:29 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes Saturn will show its rings and Venus will show a small slightly gibbous moon shape which will shrink and grow more full over the next months
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Mercury and bright stars in twilight at 7 p.m. February 20, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and the Moon at 6:30 a.m. February 21, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. created using Stellarium.
The waning gibbous Moon as it should appear tomorrow morning with binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with the same magnification at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning February 21, 2019. See the table of Jupiter moon events tomorrow morning. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
| Satellite | Event | Date | UT | EST | Notes |
| Ganymede | Occultation start | 21 Feb 2019 | 07:05:00 AM | 2:05 a.m. | Not visible from Michigan |
| Europa | Shadow start | 21 Feb 2019 | 08:36:00 AM | 3:36 a.m. | |
| Ganymede | Occultation end | 21 Feb 2019 | 09:15:00 AM | 4:15 a.m. | |
| Europa | Transit start | 21 Feb 2019 | 10:57:00 AM | 5:57 a.m. | |
| Europa | Shadow end | 21 Feb 2019 | 10:58:00 AM | 5:58 a.m. | |
| Io | Eclipse start | 21 Feb 2019 | 11:49:00 AM | 6:49 a.m. | |
| Europa | Transit end | 21 Feb 2019 | 01:21:00 PM | 8:27 a.m. | Not visible from Michigan |
Jupiter satellite events are from https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 20, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/13/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 6:08, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:44. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 3:10 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet visible now is Mars. It will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:48 p.m. Mercury should become visible next week. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 3:55 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and now is west of Venus. In small telescopes up to four of Jupiter’s moons are visible. Venus, which is about to pass Saturn next Monday morning, will rise at 5:24 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes it is a smalls slightly gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more toward full as its size shrinks as it moves around and behind the Sun. Saturn will rise at 5:47 a.m. tomorrow in the east-southeast.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon tonight at 8 p.m. February 13, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Uranus as it would be seen in binoculars or small telescope at 8 p.m. February 13, 2018. The planets will be about a degree apart (2 Moon widths). Created using Stellarium.
The Moon and Aldebaran at 8 p.m. February 13, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets at 6:30 a.m. February 14, 2019. Saturn is joining Venus and Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning February 14, 2019. The moon Io is behind the planet at that time. 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 February 13, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/06/2019 – Ephemeris – Saturn is back, and a look at some other bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 2 minutes, setting at 5:58, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:54. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 7:47 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:50 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 4:17 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and now is west of Venus. In small telescopes up to four of Jupiter’s moons are visible. Venus will rise at 5:17 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes it is a featureless slightly gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more toward full as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun. Saturn is making an appearance in morning twilight rising at 6:12 a.m. tomorrow in the east-southeast.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the evening constellations tonight at 8 p.m. February 6, 2019. Note the faint planet Uranus near Mars. They will appear only a degree apart next Wednesday night for a telescopic treat. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Venus, and the rising Saturn at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning February 7, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning February 7, 2019. Io is just peeking out on the lower left edge, though not quite showing up in this chart. 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 February 6, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 7th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/30/2019 – Ephemeris – Looking for the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 5:48, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:03. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:55 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:53 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 4:39 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and now is west of Venus. In small telescopes up to four of Jupiter’s moons are visible. The waning crescent Moon will be between the two planets tomorrow morning. Venus will rise at 5:08 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes it is a featureless slightly gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more toward full as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the evening constellations tonight at 8 p.m. January 30, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, the Moon and Jupiter in the morning at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 31, 2019. Saturn will rise at 6:37 tomorrow morning into twilight. It will make our morning planet view next week. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The waning crescent Moon as it should appear tomorrow morning, January 31, 2019, with earthshine in binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 31, 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 January 30, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 31st. Mercury does not show on these charts because it is south of the Sun, having passed superior conjunction on the 29th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/24/2019 – Ephemeris – Taurus the bull
Ephemeris for Thursday, January 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 29 minutes, setting at 5:40, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:09. The Moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 10:14 this evening.
Midway up the sky in the southeast at 8 p.m. is the constellation of the giant hunter Orion. Above him, to the right is Taurus the bull. His face is a letter V shape of stars lying on its side, the star cluster Hyades, with the bright orange-red star Aldebaran at one tip of the V as its angry blood-shot eye, but actually about half way between us and the cluster. Orion is depicted in the sky facing, with club in one hand and a shield in the other, the charging Taurus. The Pleiades star cluster is in his shoulder. Taurus in Greek mythology was the form the god Zeus when he carried off the maiden Europa. Europa’s still with him as the intriguing satellite orbiting Zeus’ Roman equivalent the planet Jupiter.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Taurus and Europa at 8 p.m. January 24, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
The Rape of Europa by Titian. According to the story Zeus as a bull abducted Europa and swam to Crete, where she became the first queen of that island, and bore him three sons. Other paintings of this subject are by Rembrandt and de Troy. This painting belongs to the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum in Boston, MA. Click on the image to enlarge.
Jupiter’s satellite Europa, slightly smaller than the Earth’s moon, has a fresh ice surface with very little cratering. The ice floats on a deep water ocean supposedly containing more water than all the Earth’s oceans. Click on the image to enlarge. This is a place NASA will send a spacecraft to look for the chemistry of life. Credit NASA/JPL, Ted Stryk.
01/23/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s check out where the bright planets are for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 5:38, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:10. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 8:59 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:55 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:59 a.m. tomorrow and is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is a featureless slight gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more gibbous as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 5:01 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and is west of Venus, but south, so Venus still rises first by 2 minutes. They will appear nearly side by side as they rise.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars with the evening stars and constellations tonight at 8 p.m. January 23, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Jupiter and the Moon in the morning at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 24, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
The waning gibbous Moon as it should appear tomorrow morning with binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 24, 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 January 23, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 24th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/16/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 16th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 5:29, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:15. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 4:20 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:57 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:49 a.m. tomorrow and is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is a featureless slight gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more gibbous as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 5:22 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, but second to no planet in size. Binoculars can see some of its biggest moons. Telescopes can see all four.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon with the evening stars tonight at 8 p.m. January 16, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The waxing gibbous Moon as it should appear tonight in binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter in the morning at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 17, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 17, 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 January 16, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 17th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/09/2019 – Ephemeris – Where are the planets tonight?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 9th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 1 minute, setting at 5:20. The Moon, 4 days past new, will set at 8:55 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:59 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:40 a.m. tomorrow and this morning is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is half illuminated, having its greatest western elongation last Saturday. Its phase will now grow to be gibbous as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around behind the Sun. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 5:43 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, but second to no planet in size. Binoculars can see some of its biggest moons. Telescopes can see all four.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon with the evening constellations tonight at 8 p.m. January 9, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars including earthshine this evening. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter in the morning at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning January 10, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning January 10, 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 January 9, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 10th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/02/2019 – Ephemeris – The first look at the bright planets for the new year
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 2nd. The Sun will rise at 8:20, the latest sunrise. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:13. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 6:02 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. We start with the Earth which will reach perihelion, its closest to the Sun of the year at 4:49 tomorrow morning at 91.3 million miles (147.1 million kilometers). Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:59 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:31 a.m. tomorrow and this morning is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is a fat crescent. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 6:04 a.m. will be to the right of the Moon then. Mercury and Saturn are not visible, though the latter passed behind the Sun yesterday to become a morning planet.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the constellations at 8 p.m. tonight January 2, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets Venus and Jupiter this morning, January 2, 2019, at 7 a.m.. Created using Stellarium.
The waning crescent Moon as it should appear this morning with earthshine in binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 7 a.m. this morning January 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 January 2, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 3rd. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/26/2018 – Ephemeris – Looking at the bright planets for the last time in 2018
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 26th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:08. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:05 this evening.
Let’s look at the bright planets for the last time in 2018. In the evening sky we have Mars still visible, but Saturn is lost in the bright twilight. It will pass conjunction with the Sun on New Years day. Mars will be due south at 6:09 p.m., and it will set at 12:05 a.m. Mars is moving eastward, crossing the constellation of Pisces. Comet Wirtanen is moving northward and to the lower left of Capella, in dark skies again in the early evening, but is fading as it moves away from both the Earth and Sun. It should be visible in binoculars as a faint fuzzy spot. Venus, our brilliant morning star, will rise at 4:24 a.m. in the east-southeast. Jupiter will rise at 6:24 a.m. also in the east-southeast.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addenda
Planets and the Moon
Mars at 7 p.m. tonight December 26, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets Venus Jupiter this morning, December 26, 2018, at 7 a.m.. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon with the bright star Regulus in Leo the lion at 7 this morning, December 26, 2018.
Telescopic view of Venus this morning December 26, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Planets, a comet and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 20, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 27th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Comet Wirtanen
Comet 46P/Wirtanen positions for the next week. Positions are marked with month-date and magnitude. The observations are about 5 magnitudes brighter than shown here. Star field position is for 9 p.m. on the 26th. The comet is circumpolar, so it will not set overnight. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 