Archive
06/15/2016 – Ephemeris – Three bright planets still reign in the evening sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:30, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:51 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Jupiter is in the southwest in the early evening, moving to the west-southwest. It will set at 1:41 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars starts the evening in the southeast. It’s above and right of its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Mars will move due south at 11:29 p.m. and will set at 4:02 a.m. Saturn is low in the east-southeast. It’s below and to the left of Mars. Saturn will pass due south at 12:47 a.m. and will set at 5:23 a.m. It’s a wonderful telescopic sight.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon and the evening planets at 11 p.m., June 15, 2016. The Moon is too small to show the crescent, but see below. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 11 p.m. June 15, 2016. Jupiter’s apparent diameter will be 35.7″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars tonight, June 15, 2016 at 11 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 11 p.m. June 15, 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 17.9″. The central meridian will be 0.45 degrees. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 11 p.m. June 15, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 18.4″. The rings span 42.8″, larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 15, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on June 16. 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.
06/09/2016 – Ephemeris – Waiting for the first stars to appear
Ephemeris for Thursday, June 9th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 9:27, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 12:59 tomorrow morning.
Lets look at the first stars and planets to appear tonight as it gets dark. The first object to appear will be the fat crescent Moon in the southwest. The planet Jupiter will be the next to appear after sunset left and above the Moon. Mars, low in the southeast will appear reddish, shortly thereafter. Looking very high in the southeast, the fourth brightest nighttime star will appear. This will be Arcturus with an orange hue. Saturn should appear to the left and below Mars. Soon other stars will appear including the Big Dipper overhead. Other bright stars will appear, the summer star Vega low in the northeast. Regulus between Jupiter and the Moon and Spica between Jupiter and Mars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The sky at about 10 p.m. or a little later, watching the first stars and planets appear. Created using Stellarium. If viewing using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge.
06/08/2016 – Ephemeris – Jupiter, Mars and Saturn rule the evening sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 8th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 29 minutes, setting at 9:26, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:57. The Moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 12:23 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Jupiter is in the south-southwest in the early evening, moving to the west-southwest. It will set at 2:07 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars starts the evening in the southeast. It’s above and right of its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Mars will move due south at 11:58 p.m. and will set at 4:35 a.m. Saturn is low in the east-southeast. It’s below and to the left of Mars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon and the evening planets with the stars and constellations at 11 p.m., June 8, 2016. The Moon is too small to show the crescent, but see below. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars tonight, June 8, 2016 at 11 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 11 p.m. June 8, 2016. Jupiter’s apparent diameter will be 36.3″. Note that Callisto began a transit across the face of Jupiter at 10:59 p.m. (02:59 UT) It will be hard to spot since the satellites appear here much brighter in relation to the planet than they actually are. The transit will end at 2:14 a.m. (06:14 UT) just after it sets here. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 11 p.m. June 8, 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 18.3″. The central meridian will be 62.82 degrees. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 11 p.m. June 8, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 18.4″. The rings span 42.9″, larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 8, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on June 9. 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.
06/01/2016 – Ephemeris – There’s about to be 3 official evening planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 1st. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 9:21, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:59. The Moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:31 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Jupiter is in the south in the early evening, moving to the southwest. It will set at 2:34 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars starts the evening low in the southeast. It’s above and right of its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Mars will move due south at 12:40 a.m. and will set at 5:11 a.m. Saturn will rise at 9:11 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s to the left of Mars. It will be in opposition from the Sun Friday, something I’ll explore tomorrow.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addenda
Looking at the planets
The Planets and constellations, with their boundaries for 11 p.m., June 1, 2016. Note that Mars is back in Libra. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 11 p.m. June 1, 2016. Jupiter’s apparent diameter will be 37.1″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 11 p.m. June 1, 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 18.6″. The central meridian will be 124.75 degrees. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 11 p.m. June 1, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 18.4″. The rings span 42.8″, larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 1, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on June 2. 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.
Forty first anniversary program
Being Planet Wednesday I was too busy to acknowledge it, but Ephemeris is 41 years old today. Astronomically speaking this program starts Ephemeris’ forty second trip around the Sun. What wonders await this go round?
05/25/2016 – Ephemeris – Two official evening planets and another also visible in the evening
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 9:15, and will rise tomorrow at 6:03. The Moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 12:21 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Jupiter is in the south in the early evening, moving to the southwest. It will set at 3:01 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars is now up at sunset. It’s above and right of its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Mars will move due south at 1:17 a.m. and will set at 6:48 a.m. Mars is still inching closer to the Earth now, only 46.9 million miles (75.6 million km) away. It will be closest to the Earth next Monday. Saturn will rise at 9:37 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s to the left of Mars, and once it’s been up for an hour is a beautiful sight in any telescope.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening sky tonight with Jupiter, Mars and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. May 25, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Mars are officially in the evening sky because they are up before sunset. Saturn will reach opposition from the Sun on June 3rd, then it will be an evening planet too.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 10:30 p.m. May 25, 2016. Jupiter’s apparent diameter will be 37.9″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 10:30 p.m. May 25, 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 18.5″. The central meridian will be 179.11 degrees. Syrtis Major is the large feature in the north near the polar cap. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 10:30 p.m. May 25, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 18.4″. The rings span 42.9″, a bit larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at Sunrise and Sunset of a single night starting with sunset on the right on May 25, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on May 26. 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.
05/18/2016 – Ephemeris – Three bright planets and the Moon grace the evening sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 9:08. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:19 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:09.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Jupiter is in the south in the early evening, moving to the southwest. It will set at 3:28 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars will rise at 9:26 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s above and right of its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Mars is getting closer to the Earth now, only 48 million miles (77 million km) away. It will be closest to the Earth on the 30th. Saturn will rise at 10:11 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s to the left of Mars, and once it’s been up for an hour is a beautiful sight in any telescope.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn at 11 p.m. May 18, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 11 p.m., May 18, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as they might be seen through a telescope at 11 p.m. May 18, 2016. It’s 38.7″ in equatorial diameter. The Great Red Spot will cross the planet’s central meridian at 11:38 p.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 11 p.m. May 18, 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 18.2″. The central meridian will be 248.08 degrees. Syrtis Major is the large feature in the north near the polar cap. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 11 p.m. May 18, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 18.4″. The rings span 42.8″, a bit larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at Sunrise and Sunset of a single night starting with sunset on the right on May 18, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on May 19. 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.
05/11/2016 – Ephemeris – Three of the bright planets are seen before midnight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 41 minutes, setting at 9:00. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 1:48 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:17.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Mercury is now officially in the morning sky but too close to the Sun to be seen. Jupiter is in the south in the early evening, and will pass due south at 9:22 p.m., and will set at 3:55a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars will rise at 10:33 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s still above its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Mars is getting closer to the Earth now, only 50 million miles away It will be closest on the 30th. Saturn will rise at 10:41 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s just left of Mars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening sky tonight at 11:30 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
04/27/2016 – Ephemeris – Mars is closing in on its rival, but backs off for now
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 27th. The Sun rises at 6:38. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 5 minutes, setting at 8:43. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 1:36 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Mercury is in the west-northwest, very low to the horizon, setting at 10:12 p.m. Mercury is really fading now. Jupiter is in the southeast in the early evening, and will pass due south at 10:17 p.m., and will set at 4:51 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars will rise at 11:11 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s now almost bu not quite directly north of its look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. Saturn will rise at 11:40 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s just left of Mars. Its rings are a telescopic treat. Venus is invisibly close to the Sun now.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and the spring stars animation. Set for 10 p.m. April 27, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as they might be seen in a telescope at 10 p.m., April 27, 2016. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 41.2″ According to the Project Pluto web site the Great Red spot will cross Jupiter’s central meridian at 9:16 p.m., a half hour after sunset. If so, the position of the spot in this chart is incorrect. Created with Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Mars, Saturn and the Moon at 5:30 a.m. April 28, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 5:30 a.m., April 28 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 15.7″. The central meridian will be 169.90 degrees. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 5:30 a.m., April 28, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 18.1″. The rings span 42.1″, a bit larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 5:30 a.m. on April 28, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The retrograde tracks of Mars and Saturn as we pass both planets this year. The tracks start on February 14, 2016 and run to September 13, 2016 plotted at 4 day intervals and labeled every 20 days. I noticed when producing the Mars, Saturn & Moon plot above that Mars was not due north of Antares on the 27th. Mars actually became stationary and started it’s retrograde loop a few days ago before it got that far. However when Mars doubles back, it will have a much closer pass of Antares on August 27th. Saturn’s plots are so close together that they appear as a fat line. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Retrograde motion of the planets are caused when the Earth is either passing a superior planet (Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, etc.), or when being passed by an inferior planet (Venus and Mercury). It was a big problem with the old Earth center solar system, before Copernicus and Kepler.
Planets at sunrise and sunset of a single night starting with sunset on the right on April 27, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on April 28. 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.
04/22/2016 – Ephemeris – Hitting on Jupiter
Ephemeris for Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd. The Sun rises at 6:45. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 8:37. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 9:08 this evening.
The first time anyone had spotted anything hitting Jupiter was in 1994, when over 20 pieces of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 hit the planet over an exciting week in July. Jupiter gets hit maybe once a year by a small asteroid making a flash or a scar visible from the Earth. Except for Shoemaker-Levy 9, all the rest of the impacts have been discovered by amateur astronomers who create videos of Jupiter through their modest, by professional standards, telescopes. Generally the reason for the videos is to stack the images to produce super detailed images of the planet, like my friend Scott Anttila, whose images I occasional post with these program transcripts on my blog bobmoler.wordpress.com. Amateurs have even discovered exoplanets.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Two of the impact sites of the over 20 bits of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 photographed on July 18, 1994. Credit NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Blemish from an impact discovered by amateur astronomer Anthony Wesley on July 17, 2009. Credit NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.
Impact June 3, 2010 photographed by Anthony Wesley. Credit Anthony Wesley.
Processed image by John McKeon of the impact of March 17, 2017. The impact was first noticed by Gerrit Kernbauer. Both were amateur astronomers.
Universe Today and more information and videos of the most recent event.
04/20/2016 – Ephemeris – Two bright planets in the evening, and two in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 20th. The Sun rises at 6:49. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 45 minutes, setting at 8:34. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:47 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what the bright naked eye planets are up to. Mercury is in the west-northwest, very low to the horizon, setting at 10:26 p.m. Mercury is fading now. Jupiter is in the southeast in the evening, and will pass due south at 10:46 p.m., and will set at 5:19 a.m. It’s below the stars of Leo this year. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars will rise at 11:40 p.m. in the east-southeast. It’s above Scorpius but is actually in western Ophiuchus now. Saturn will rise at 12:09 a.m. in the east-southeast. It’s just left of Mars. Its rings are a telescopic treat. Venus will rise at 6:28 a.m. and not visible in the bright twilight.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Jupiter, the Moon and bright stars visible at 9:30 p.m. April 20, 2016.. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as they might be seen through a telescope at 9:30 p.m. April 20, 2016. It’s 42.0″ in diameter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon, Mars and Saturn and the bright stars at 5:30 a.m. April 21, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Mars as it might be seen in a large telescope with high power at 5:30 a.m., April 21 2016. Mars apparent diameter is 14.6″. The central meridian will be 233.11 degrees. Syrtis Major is at the extreme left of the planet. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 5:30 a.m., April 21, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet is 17.9″. The rings span 41.7″, almost the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at Sunrise and Sunset on April 20, 2016. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 