Archive
12/28/2016 – Ephemeris – Our last weekly look at the bright planets for 2016
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 28th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:09. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:16 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our last look at the bright planets for 2016. In the southeast to south before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed as the sky brightens. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 1:53 a.m. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6:30 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwestern sky. Venus is unmistakable as the brilliant evening star, Mars will be above and left of it and much dimmer. Venus will set at 9:01 p.m. Mars will set at 10:12. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last 2 months. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky, and is closing in on it’s greatest eastern elongation from the Sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the evening twilight of about an hour and tree quarters after sunset. 7 p.m. December 28, 2016. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
Venus as it might appear in a telescope at 7 p.m. December 28, 2016. It is 21.1′ (seconds or arc) in diameter. and 58% illuminated by the Sun.
Jupiter among a preview of the spring constellations at 7 a.m. now. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
Jupiter and its moons this morning, December 28, 2016 at 7 a.m. Note the compact grouping. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Jupiter and its moons tomorrow morning, December 29, 2016 at 7 a.m. Note that Io is missing. It was eclipsed by Jupiter’s shadow on the west (right) side of the planet at 6:10 a.m. (11:10 UT). It will reappear from behind Jupiter on the other side at 14:33 UT for observers a few time zones west of here. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 28, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 29. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/23/2016 – Ephemeris – Another possible set of events that could have been the Star of Bethlehem
Ephemeris for Friday, December 23rd. The Sun will rise at 8:18. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:06. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:43 tomorrow morning.
The brilliant planet Venus is out evening star now, and one could say that’s its our Christmas Star. And perhaps it was, or was part of the Star of Bethlehem. Back in August of 3 BC the planet Jupiter and Venus appeared to come very close to one another. The term for such an apparent close approach is called a conjunction. Astrologers make a big deal out of such a chance alignment. It’s like a trick photo of someone in the foreground appearing to hold up or leaning on a more distant object. Anyway, 10 months later in June of 2 BC Jupiter again appeared to join Venus, this time so close they could not be separated by the human eye. This all occurred against the constellation of Leo the lion which in Genesis is the symbol of Judah.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the twilight last night at 6 p.m., December 22, 2016. Photograph by Bob Moler. Click on the image to enlarge.
I have more information on this set of conjunctions in my December 2 post announcing my program on the Star of Bethlehem: https://bobmoler.wordpress.com/2016/12/02/12022016-ephemeris-my-talk-about-the-star-of-bethlehem-is-tonight/
12/22/2016 – Ephemeris – Could Jupiter and Saturn have combined to be the Star of Bethlehem?
Ephemeris for Thursday, December 22nd. The Sun will rise at 8:17. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:05. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:45 tomorrow morning.
This morning the planet Jupiter is seen right below the waning crescent Moon. It reminds me of one of the possible answers to the questions to what the Star of Bethlehem was. Back in 7 BC Jupiter passed Saturn three times in that year. This is a reasonably rare occurrence especially against a particular constellation, which in this case was Pisces the fish, which would occur every 800 plus years. Early in the run of this program there was another so-called triple conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. This time it was against the constellation of Virgo the virgin in 1980 and 81. Jupiter passes Saturn every 20 years, but only when it does so when they are opposite the Sun in the sky is there a chance for a triple conjunction. Tomorrow I’ll look at two really close conjunctions of Jupiter and Venus that also could have been seen by the Magi as the Star of Bethlehem.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and the Moon at 7 a.m. this morning, December 22, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Saturn pass each other three times from May to December in 7 BC. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts) and GIMP. Click image to enlarge.
12/21/2016 – Ephemeris – A look at the bright planets at the start of winter
Ephemeris for the winter solstice Wednesday, December 21st. The Sun will rise at 8:17. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:05. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:46 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the naked eye planets now that it’s officially winter as of 5:45 a.m. In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 2:16 a.m. and will appear below the Moon. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus is unmistakable as the brilliant evening star, Mars will be above and left of it. Venus will set at 8:46. Mars will set at 10:12. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last 2 months. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky, and is closing in on it’s greatest eastern elongation from the Sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the evening twilight of about an hour after sunset. 6 p.m. December 21, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as it might be seen in a telescope at 6 p.m. December 21, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon at 7 a.m. December 22, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 7 a.m. December 22, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 7 a.m. December 22, 2016. Io is behind Jupiter at this time, however it will clear the planet by 7:38 a.m. EST (12:38 UT). Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Update 8:10 a.m.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 21, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 22. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/14/2016 – Ephemeris – Mercury is seen briefly with the evening planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 14th. The Sun will rise at 8:12. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 6:17 this evening.
In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 2:39 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter as it appears to move away from the Sun. We will pass it on April 7th next year. Mercury, Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Mercury will require a very low horizon, Venus will be the higher and the brightest of the three, Mars will be higher to the left. Mercury will set at 6:24 p.m., Venus will set at 8:30. Mars will set at 10:11. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last month and a half. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mars and Mercury in the trees at 6 p.m., December 14, 2016. This is approximately one hour after sunset. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury might be spotted a half hour earlier a bit higher with binoculars.
Jupiter the Moon and a preview of the southern spring constellations at 6:30 a.m. December 15, 2016. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon at 6:30 a.m. December 15, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 6:30 a.m. December 15, 2016. Io appeared from behind Jupiter at 5:42 a.m. (10:42 UT). Image created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 14, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 15. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/07/2016 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 7th*. The Sun will rise at 8:06. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 1:16 tomorrow morning.
In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 3:01 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter as it appears to move away from the Sun. We will pass it on April 7th next year. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus will be the lower and brighter of the two, Mars will be higher to the left. Venus will set at 8:14. Mars will hang on a bit longer and will set at 10:10. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last month and a half. It’s losing to the Sun by only a little bit each day. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
* 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was only 3 days old at the time, so had nothing to do with it.
Addendum
Venus, Mars and the Moon at 6 p.m., December 7, 2016. This is approximately one hour after sunset. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
A closeup of the Moon at 6 p.m., December 7, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and a preview of spring constellations at 6:30 a.m. December 8, 2016. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 6:30 a.m. December 8, 2016. Europa is in Jupiter’s shadow at this time. It will disappear in its shadow at 4:46 a.m. (9:46 UT). Image created using Cartes du Ciel. Note that Europa was on the image, but was removed. Stellarium had it right, but I prefer Cartes’ rendering.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 7, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 8. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Note that Saturn is practically plotted on top of the Sun. It will be in conjunction with the Sun on the 10th. After that it will enter the morning sky.
11/30/2016 – Ephemeris – The bright planets this morning and tonight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 30th. The Sun will rise at 7:59. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 4 minutes, setting at 5:03. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 6:23 this evening.
In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 3:23 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter as it appears to move away from the Sun. We will pass it on April 7th next year. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus will be the lower and brighter of the two, Mars will be higher to the left. Venus will set at 7:59. Mars will hang on a bit longer and will set at 10:09. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last month and a half. It’s losing to the Sun by only a little bit each day. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening planets of Venus and Mars at 6:30 p.m., November 30, 2016. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with the coming spring constellations and the setting winter ones at 6:30 a.m., December 1, 2016. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Galilean satellites at 6:30 a.m., December 1, 2016. Europa is labeled, but just behind the planet. It will appear at 6:43 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on November 30, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 1. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
11/25/2016 – Ephemeris – The Moon is near Jupiter this morning
Ephemeris for Friday, November 25th. The Sun will rise at 7:53. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 5:06. The Moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:53 tomorrow morning.
The Moon passed Jupiter about 9 last night, and so this morning is to the left and a bit below the bright planet. The Moon is a waning crescent a bit less than 10% illuminated by the Sun from our vantage point. Or maybe it’s more proper to say we see less than 10% of its day lit side. The Earth is the only close object to it that can illuminate it’s night side, and that might be visible this morning as Earth shine. For the Moon the Earth is 90% illuminated by the Sun, exactly opposite its phase to us. It’s area in the Moon’s sky is 16 times the Moon’s area in our sky. On top of that the Earth is much more reflective than the Moon, which is dirty gray. So Earth light in the Moon is much brighter than moonlight on the Earth.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, the Moon, and the star Spica at 6:30 this morning, November 25, 2016. The Moon is shown twice actual size. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon with Earth shine with a confluence of planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mars) on June 15, 1991). Credit Bob Moler.
11/23/2016 – Ephemeris – Now it’s two bright planets in the evening and one in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 23rd. The Sun will rise at 7:50. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 5:07. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:55 tomorrow morning.
In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 3:44 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter as it appears to move away from the Sun. We will pass it on April 7th next year. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus will be the lower and brighter of the two, Mars will be higher to the left. Venus will set at 7:45. Mars will hang on a bit longer and will set at 10:08. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last month. It’s losing to the Sun by only a little bit each day. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and will be moving higher in the sky.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mars and the constellation Capricornus at 6:30 p.m., November 23, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon tomorrow morning, November 24, 2016. The Moon will pass Jupiter Thursday the 24th. With Friday’s post we’ll see that the Moon has passed Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its satellites this morning and tomorrow morning at 6:30.. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on November 23, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on November 24. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
11/16/2016 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets now?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 16th. The Sun will rise at 7:41. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 5:13. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 7:38 this evening.
Low in the east-southeast before 7:15 a.m. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 4:05 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter, though it’s 5 times Earth’s distance from the Sun and will pass it April 7th. Venus, Saturn and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus will be the brightest, Saturn might be picked out of the twilight to the right and below Venus, and Mars will be higher to the left. Saturn will set first at 6:30, with Venus setting at 7:33. Mars will hang on a bit longer and will set at 10:07. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed from last week. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening planets in twilight in the southwestern sky at 6 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter rising in the morning sky this morning at 7 a.m. November 19, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons, as they might be seen in a telescope at 7 a.m., this morning, November 16, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon is visible both in the evening and the next morning. At right is the evening Moon at 8 p.m. On the left is the Moon at 7 a.m. A sharp-eyed person, with binoculars, can notice a slight change in the sunset terminator in the 11 hours between the two views. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on November 16, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on November 17. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 