Archive
06/03/2015 – Ephemeris – The visible bright planets are hanging on in the evening
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 3rd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 9:22. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 10:15 this evening and tomorrow the Sun will rise at 5:59.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Our brilliant evening star Venus is in the west by 9:45 p.m. It will set at 12:40 a.m. As Venus is reaching its greatest eastern elongation or separation from the Sun it is now setting earlier. Venus apparent orbit of the Sun is also tilting to a lower angle with the horizon, since though east, it is now south of the Sun. Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky about 10 p.m. It will set at 1:23 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus, which is approaching it. Saturn is in the southeast as evening twilight fades. It will set at 5:37 a.m. in the southwest.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening planets and bright stars, including the Moon, at 10:30 p.m. June 3, 2015. Created using Stellarium. Click on Image to enlarge.
Comparison of the apparent sizes and satellite locations of the bright planets and the Moon at 10:30 p.m. June 3, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts) and GIMP.
Jupiter’s satellites Io and Ganymede have a busy night tonight
Satellite Event UT EDT Ganymede Transit Start June 4 0:17 June 3 8:17 p.m. Io Transit Start June 4 2:46 June 3 10:46 p.m. Io Shadow Start June 4 3:56 June 3 11:56 p.m. Ganymede Transit End June 4 3:56 June 3 11:56 p.m. Ganymede Shadow Start June 4 4:57 June 4 12:57 a.m. Io Transit End June 4 5:04 June 4 1:04 a.m. Io Shadow End June 4 6:13 * Ganymede Shadow End June 4 8:35 * * Not visible from the Traverse City/Interlochen are, Jupiter has set.
Satellite data was taken from www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm
05/27/2015 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 9:16. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:28 tomorrow morning and tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:03.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Our brilliant evening star Venus is seen in the west by 9:30 p.m. In telescopes it will appear as a dazzling orb somewhat over half illuminated by the sun. It will set at 12:46 a.m. Finally it’s beginning to set earlier. The Sun is catching up with it. Venus will reach its greatest angular separation from the Sun on June 6th. Venus is seen below the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky before 10 p.m. It will set at 1:48 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion. Saturn will be seen in the east southeastern sky as evening twilight deepens. It’s in Scorpius this year.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening planets and the Moon from west to east at 10:30 p.m. on May 27, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Apparent sizes of the planets Venus, Jupiter and Saturn compared for 10:30 p.m. on May 27, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Note above that the moon Io will be transiting Jupiter at 10:30 p.m. It’s shadow is also projected on the planet. Io will move off the planet at 11:06 p.m., and the shadow event will end at 12:18 a.m.
Telescopic view of the Moon at 10:30 p.m. on May 27,2015. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.
05/25/2015 – Ephemeris – Venus will appear to approach Jupiter throughout June
Ephemeris for Memorial Day, Monday, May 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 9 minutes, setting at 9:14. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 2:34 tomorrow morning, and tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:04.
In a telescope the planet Venus is itself near a half phase. Of course, Venus orbits the sun, not the Earth. It will appear about at half illuminated when it’s at its greatest apparent distance from the sun. Right now Venus is about half the apparent size of Jupiter, but it’s heading our way, so it will grow in apparent size. On June 30th Venus will pass Jupiter, by then it will appear the same size as Jupiter, and appear less than the diameter of the Moon apart. There is a coincidence between this conjunction and one over 2,000 years ago, and I’ll be investigating that in another month. I’ll have hints at the June 5th meeting of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Telescopic view of Jupiter and Venus at 10:30 p.m. June 30, 2015. The two planets will appear two thirds the width of the Moon apart. Both will fit easily in the field of a 50 power eyepiece. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
05/20/2015 – Ephemeris – Evening bright planet lineup
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 9:09. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 11:35 this evening, and tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:08.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to really be spotted in the evening twilight. It’s at a 13 degree angle from the sun and will set at 10:47. Mercury is getting dimmer as its phase becomes a decreasingly thin crescent. Our brilliant evening star Venus is in the west by 9:30 p.m. It will set at 12:47 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky before 10 p.m. It will set at 2:14 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 9:03 p.m. It will be low in the southwest as morning twilight brightens. It’s rings and the moon Titan can be seen in small telescopes.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening planets from west to east at 10:30 p.m. on May 20, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the evening planets showing their relative sizes at 10:30 p.m. on May 20, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Note: The unnamed satellite of Jupiter is Callisto, which ended its transit of Jupiter at 10:27 p.m.
Binocular-like view of the Moon at 10:30 p.m. on May 20,2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
05/13/2015 – Ephemeris – The bright planets including a last look at Mercury for a while
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 9:01. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:17 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:16.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mercury is low in the west-northwestern sky after sunset. It’s at a 19 degrees angle from the sun and will set at 10:47. Mercury is getting dimmer as its phase becomes a decreasingly thin crescent. Our brilliant evening star Venus is in the west by 9:30 p.m. It will set at 12:44 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky before 10 p.m. It will set at 2:43 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 9:33 p.m. It will be low in the southwest as morning twilight brightens. It’s rings and the moon Titan can be seen in small telescopes.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the setting stars of winter at 10 p.m., May 13, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Venus through a telescope, over exposed to match the brilliant orb of Venus, on May 13, 2015. Created using Carted du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Jupiter and its moons at 10 p.m. May 13, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn above the southeastern horizon with the stars of late spring at 11 p.m. May 13, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope the night of May 6-7, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Same scale/magnification as Jupiter and Venus. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
05/06/2015 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is planet day or night on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 8:53. The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:26 this evening. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:24.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mercury is low in the west-northwestern sky after sunset. It’s at a 21 degrees angle from the sun and will set at 10:52. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9:30 p.m. It will set at 12:37 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky before 10 p.m. It will set at 3:05 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. In telescopes, Jupiter’s moon Europa will pass in front of Jupiter starting at 1:43 a.m. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 10:33 p.m. It will be low in the south as morning twilight brightens. It’s rings and the moon Titan can be seen in small telescopes.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the setting stars of winter at 10 p.m., May 6, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons at 10 p.m. May 6, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn above the southeastern horizon with the stars of late spring at 11 p.m. May 6, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope the night of May 6-7, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/29/2015 – Ephemeris – Last look at the bright planets for April
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 29th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 8:45. The Moon, half way from first quarter to full, will set at 4:59 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:34.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mercury is low in the western sky after sunset. It’s 19 degrees angle from the sun and will set at 10:32. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9:30 p.m. It will set at 12:27 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the southwestern sky in the evening. It will set at 3:31 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. In telescopes, Jupiter’s moon Europa will pass in front of Jupiter starting at 11:07 p.m. and its shadow will start across at 1:40 a.m.Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 10:33 p.m. It will be low in the south as morning twilight brightens.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon at 9:30 p.m. April 29, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 10 p.m., April 29, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter at 10:58 p.m. April 29, 2015 with Europa about to transit the planet. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn alone above the southeastern horizon at 11:30 p.m. April 29, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope the night of April 29-30, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/22/2015 – Ephemeris – All the bright planets are back now
Ephemeris for Earth Day, Wednesday, April 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 8:36. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 12:55 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:45.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mars and Mercury are in conjunction, that is close to each other low in the west just after sunset. Mars appears a bit lower and left of the brighter Mercury. Mars will set tonight at 9:47 with Mercury 5 minutes later. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9 p.m. It will set at 12:15 a.m. Jupiter will appear high in the southwestern sky in the evening. It will set at 3:58 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 11:03 p.m. It will be low in the south at 5 to 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
View to the west with Mars, Mercury, Venus and the Moon at 9:15 p.m. April 22, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, the Moon and the setting winter constellations at 10 p.m. April 22, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The visibility of the Moon at 10 p.m. on April 22, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Jupiter and its moons at 10 p.m. Europa will be transiting the face of Jupiter. It’s shadow will start to cross the face of Jupiter at 11:04 p.m.. The transit will end at 11:27 p.m. and the shadow will leave the face of Jupiter at 1:58 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn rising. Shown at midnight, April 22-23 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and the summer constellations at 5:45 a.m. April 23, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 5:45 a.m., April 23, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/15/2015 – Ephemeris – Besides Tax Day, it’s planets day on Ephemeris
Wednesday, April 15th, Tax Day. The Sun rises at 6:58. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 8:27. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:44 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9 p.m. It will set at 12:06 a.m. Mars appears much lower and to the right of it. The Red Planet will set tonight at 9:48. Jupiter will appear high in the southern sky in the evening. It will set at 4:25 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. All four moons will be visible in telescopes tonight, Europa will be on the western side of Jupiter casting it’s shadow on the planet in the evening. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 11:32 p.m. It will be low in the south at 5 to 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Note: Due to some incorrect calculations the Jupiter moon phenomena in the broadcast program was in error. This transcript corrects that.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and Mars and remaining winter constellations at 9:30 p.m. April 15, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons as they would appear in a telescope at 9:30 p.m. April 15, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Closeup of Jupiter and Europa with its shadow cast on Jupiter at 9:30 p.m. April 15, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Saturn and the evening stars of summer at 5:30 a.m. April 16, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 5:30 a.m., April 16, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
04/08/2015 – Ephemeris – It’s bright planet night on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 8th. The Sun will rise at 7:11. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 8:18. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 12:34 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9 p.m. It will set at 11:43 p.m. Mars appears much lower and to the right of it. The Red Planet will set tonight at 9:48. Jupiter will appear high in the southeastern sky in the evening. It will set at 4:52 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus. Three of the four moons will be visible in telescopes tonight, Callisto is behind Jupiter and will reappear at 4:42 a.m., shortly before Jupiter sets. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 12:01 a.m. It will be low in the south at 5 to 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon, Jupiter, Venus and Mars and remaining winter constellations at 9:30 p.m. April 8, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and three of its moons. Callisto is tagged, but is behind the planet at 9:30 p.m. April 8, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Saturn and the Moon above Scorpius at 5:30 a.m. April 9, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 5:30 a.m., April 9, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The Moon at 5:30 a.m. April 9, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 