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07/18/2018 – Ephemeris – Our weekly look at the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 9:23, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:15. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 1:01 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday and time to look for and at the bright planets. Four of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:40 p.m. until it sets at 11:21 p.m. Mercury, is fading and is far below and right of Venus, setting at 10:18 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south as it gets dark. It is only outshone by Venus, the Moon, and for a few weeks by Mars at its closest. Jupiter will set at 1:42 a.m. Saturn will start the evening low in the southeast and will stay relatively low, above the Teapot of Sagittarius. It will be due south at 12:14 a.m. and will set at 4:40 a.m.. Mars will rise at 10:20 p.m. and is now only 36.8 million miles (59.2 million km) away, in telescopes it appear to be 23.7″ (seconds of arc) in diameter. It will be due south and at its highest in the sky at 2:35 a.m. at 21 degrees altitude.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Evening planets from Mercury to Saturn and Moon at 9:50 p.m., July 18, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mars at its highest in the south with Saturn at 2:35 a.m. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The moon as it might be seen in binoculars this evening. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars at 11 p.m. on July 18. All at the same magnification. 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 July 18, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 19th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/11/2018 – Ephemeris – The bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 20 minutes, setting at 9:28, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:08. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 5:36 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday and time to look for and at the bright planets. Four of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:50 p.m. until it sets at 11:33 p.m. Mercury, reaching its greatest separation from the Sun just after midnight, is far below and right of it, setting at 10:44 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon, though Mars will outshine it later this month at its closest. Jupiter will set at 2:09 a.m. Saturn will start the evening low in the southeast will stay relatively low, above the Teapot of Sagittarius and will set at 5:10 a.m.. Mars will rise at 10:46 p.m. and is now outshining Saturn.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m. July 11, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
The evening planets except Mercury at 10:30 p.m. July 11, 2018. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Saturn in the morning at 4:30 a.m. July 12, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. on July 11, and Mars at 4:30 a.m. on July 12. All images are at the same magnification. 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 July 11, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 12th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/04/2018 – Ephemeris – The bright planets for the week of Independence Day
Ephemeris for Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:03. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 1:13 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday again and time to look for and at the bright planets. Four of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:50 p.m. until it sets at 11:42 p.m. Mercury is far below and right of it, setting at 10:57 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon, though Mars will outshine it next month at its closest. Jupiter will set at 2:37 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size. Saturn will start the evening low in the southeast will stay relatively low, above the Teapot of Sagittarius and will set at 5:39 a.m.. Mars will rise at 11:17 p.m. and is now outshining Saturn.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
All the evening planets for July 4, 2018 at 10:30 p.m. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic appearance of Venus on July, 4, 2018. A moon filter helps cut down the glare to be able to more easily see the phase. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of Jupiter and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. on July 4, and Mars at 12 midnight on July 5, 2018 at the same magnification. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Europa’s transit of the face of Jupiter starts at 1:55 a.m. July 5th. The Great Red Spot will cross the central meridian of Jupiter at 11:19 p.m.
Mars Saturn and the Moon at 5 a.m. July 5, 2018. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 4, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 5th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/27/2018 – Ephemeris – Our Wednesday look at the bright planets
Wednesday, June 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:59. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 6:27 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday again and time to look for and at the bright planets. Three of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:50 p.m. until it sets at 11:53 p.m. Mercury is far below and right of it, setting at 10:59 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon, though Mars will outshine it next month at its closest. Jupiter will set at 3:05 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size. Saturn which is opposite the Sun in the sky today will rise as the Sun sets. It’s right below the Moon tonight. Mars will rise at 11:39 p.m. and is now outshining Saturn.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mercury low in the western sky ay 10 p.m. June 27, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic appearance of Venus on June 27, 2018. A moon filter helps cut down the glare to be able to more easily see the phase. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon tonight at 10:30 p.m. on June 27, 2018. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon and Saturn as they might appear in binoculars at 10:30 p.m. June 27, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 10:30 p.m. June 27, 2018. Information on Europa events and the Great Red Spot is below. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Moon Event Universal Time Local Time Europa Transit start 28 Jun 2018 3:30 27 Jun 2018 11:30 p.m. Europa Shadow start 28 Jun 2018 5:34 28 Jun 2018 1:34 a.m. Europa Transit end 28 Jun 2018 5:44 28 Jun 2018 1:44 a.m. Europa Shadow end 28 Jun 2018 7:49 28 Jun 2018 3:49 a.m. Great Red Spot Transit 28 Jun 2018 2:32 27 Jun 2018 10:32 p.m.
Source of Jovian events: https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm
Mars, Saturn and the Moon at 5 a.m. June 28, 2018. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Greatly enlarged telescopic Mars at 5 a.m. June 28, 2018. Note that the dark albedo features may be covered by a global dust storm currently raging on the Red Planet. 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 June 27, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 28th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/20/2018 – Ephemeris – Let’s check out the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:57. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 2:29 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday again and time to look for and at the bright planets. Three of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:50 p.m. until it sets at 11:59 p.m. Mercury is far below and right of it, setting at 10:48 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon. And after Venus sets will have the night to itself as the brightest star-like object until it sets at 3:34 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size. Saturn will rise at 9:46 p.m. in the east-southeast. Mars will rise at 12:07 a.m. and is now outshining Saturn, and in July and August will even outshine Jupiter.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m., about a half hour after sunset, June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, the Moon and Jupiter at 10:30 p.m., about an hour after sunset, on June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
The phase exhibited by Venus in a telescope on June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
The moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 10:30 p.m. June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 10:30 p.m. June 20, 2018. The image shows Europa in transit of Jupiter. A satellite is normally invisible against the face of Jupiter, but its shadow can be seen falling on the planet. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Satellite Event Local Date/Time Universal Date/Time Europa: Transit start 20 Jun 2018 9:06 pm 21 Jun 2018 1:06 Europa: Shadow start 20 Jun 2018 10:57 pm 21 Jun 2018 2:57 Europa: Transit end 20 Jun 2018 11:20 pm 21 Jun 2018 3:20 Europa: Shadow end 21 Jun 2018 1:12 am 21 Jun 2018 5:12
Source of satellite events: https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm
Morning planets at 5 a.m. June 21, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Mars with the same magnification with an inset of Mars at higher magnification at 5 a.m. June 21, 2018. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Note on the inset image. The south polar cap is probably larger than shown. Also with the dust storm in progress the dark features may be obscured. The dust storm clouds appear brighter than the normal surface of the planet.
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 20, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/13/2018 -Ephemeris – Time to check out the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:29, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
It’s Wednesday again and time to look for and at the bright planets. Two of them are visible in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:50 p.m. until it sets at 11:59 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south-southeast as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon. And after Venus sets will have the night to itself as the brightest star-like object until it sets at 4:03 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size flanked by several little star-like moons to either side. Saturn will rise at 10:16 p.m. in the east-southeast. Mars will rise at 12:29 a.m. and is now outshining Saturn, and in July and August will even outshine Jupiter.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Jupiter at 10:30 p.m. June 13, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 10:30 p.m. June 13, 2018. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Morning planets at 4:30 a.m. June 14, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Mars with the same magnification with an inset of Mars at higher magnification at 4:30 a.m. June 14, 2018. 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 June 13, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/12/2018 – Ephemeris – Virgo the virgin
Ephemeris for Tuesday, June 12th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:28, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:02 tomorrow morning.
Tonight in the sky: to the south, is bright Jupiter. The brightest star to the right of Jupiter is Spica. It is in the constellation and member of the of the zodiac: Virgo the virgin. Virgo is a large constellation of a reclining woman holding a stalk of wheat. The bright star in the center of the constellation, Spica, is the head of that spike of wheat; and as such it ruled over the harvest in two of Virgo’s guises as the goddesses Persephone and Ceres. Ceres is now a dwarf planet and the root of the word cereal. Virgo is also identified as Astraea the goddess of justice. The constellation of Libra, the scales of justice, which she is associated with, is found just east of her low in the southeast.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Virgo finder animation for 10:30 p.m. June 12, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
06/11/2018 – Ephemeris – Jupiter and the claws of the scorpion
Ephemeris for Monday, June 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 9:28, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 5:17 tomorrow morning.
Right now the bright planet Jupiter is seen in the south as it gets dark. There is a star visible below Jupiter now. The name of that star is my favorite star name: Zubenelgenubi. It roughly translates from the Arabic, and most star names are Arabic, as “Southern Claw”. This star, also known as Alpha Librae, is in the zodiacal constellation of Libra the scales or balance, a roughly square constellation standing on one corner. The name relates to Scorpius the scorpion to the east who in the Arab’s imagination extended farther to the west. The star farther to the upper left of Jupiter tonight is Zubeneschamali, you guessed it, the northern claw, also part of Libra. It’s the longest star name at 14 letters.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter with Zubenelgenubi, the South Claw and with nearby Zubeneschamali, the North Claw of Scorpius, still rising at 11 p.m. June 11, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
06/06/2018 – Ephemeris – Our weekly look at the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 9:25, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:57. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 2:43 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday again and time to look for and at the bright planets. Two of them are visible in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:45 p.m. until it sets at 12:07 a.m. Jupiter will be in the south-southeast as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon. And after Venus sets will have the night to itself as the brightest star-like object until it sets at 4:32 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size flanked by little star-like moons. Saturn will rise at 10:45 p.m. in the east-southeast. Mars will rise at 12:50 a.m. and is now outshining Saturn, and will, in July and August even outshine Jupiter.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Jupiter at 10:30 p.m. June 6, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 10:30 p.m. June 6, 2018. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Morning planets and the Moon at 4:30 a.m. June 7, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 4:30 a.m. June 7, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Mars with the same magnification with an inset of Mars at higher magnification at 4:30 a.m. June 7, 2018. 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 June 6, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 7th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
05/30/2018 – Ephemeris – Its Wednesday, time to locate the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 9:19, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:00. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 10:18 this evening.
It’s Wednesday again and time to look for the bright planets. Two of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:40 p.m. until it sets at 12:04 a.m. Jupiter will be in the southeast as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon. And after Venus sets will have the night to itself as the brightest star-like object until it sets at 5:02 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size, that is it will appear as a tiny orb flanked by little star-like moons. Saturn will rise at 11:14 p.m. in the east-southeast. Mars will rise at 1:28 a.m. and is now outshining Saturn, and will, this summer even outshine Jupiter.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Jupiter tonight May 30 2018. at 10 p.m. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons in a telescope at 10 p.m., May 30, 2018 Created using Cartes du Ciel.
Io is in front of the planet. Its transit will begin at 10:37 p.m. EDT (2:37 UT May 31)
Io’s shadow will start to cross Jupiter at 11:07 p.m. EDT (3:07 UT May 31)
Io’s transit og Jupiter will end at 12:45 a.m. May 31 (4:45 UT)
Io’s Shadow will leave the face of Jupiter at 1:16 a.m. May 31 (5:16 UT)
Times above from https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm
Morning planets Saturn and Mars plus the Moon at 5 a.m. May 31, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 5 a.m. May 31, 2018. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Mars with the same magnification with an inset of Mars at higher magnification at 5 a.m. May 31, 2018. 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 May 30, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 31st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 