Archive
11/01/2012 – Ephemeris – Previewing November Skies
Ephemeris for Thursday, November 1st. The sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 9 minutes, setting at 6:30. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 8:21 this evening.
Tonight Jupiter will appear above the moon. The month of November is one early sunsets, especially with the return to standard time this Sunday, and shortening of day light hours. Daylight hours will decrease from 10 hours 9 minutes today to 9 hours 5 minutes at month end. The altitude of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon, will drop from 31 degrees to 23½ degrees over the month. The Leonid meteor shower will have two peaks this year, but the best for us will be at 2 a.m. on the morning of the 20th. Up to 15 meteors per hour are expected. These are from Comet Tempel-Tuttle’s 1400 AD passage through the inner solar system. It won’t be until the late 2030’s when the comet will come around again.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and the moon at 10 p.m. November 1, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Leo rising at around 2 a.m. on the morning of November 20. Note the radiant in the sickle asterism of Leo. Created using Looking Up, my own program.
10/30/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Tuesday, October 30th. The sun will rise at 8:18. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 6:33. The moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 6:58 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week, a day early. At 7:30 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest moving away from the red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars. Mars will set at 8:26. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 8:18 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 3:54 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 5:16 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo, and entering the constellation of Virgo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. It’s starting to feel like winter in the early morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and stars at 7:20 p.m. on October 30, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury, though labeled, is not visible. Folks much farther south of us have a better shot at seeing it.
Jupiter, the moon and the stars of Taurus and Auriga at 9:30 p.m. October 30, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus with the winter stars at 6 a.m. on October 31, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
10/24/2012 – Ephemeris – Whare are all the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 24th. The sun will rise at 8:10. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 6:42. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:58 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. At 7:30 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest moving away from the red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars. Mars will set at 8:35. The planetary action will resume a few minutes later. Jupiter, will rise at 8:48 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 4:24 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 5 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo, and entering the constellation of Virgo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy for a few more weeks without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Antares, and the Teapot of Sagittarius low in the southwest at 7:30 p.m. on October 24, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter in the east at 10 p.m. October 24, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The morning skies with Jupiter and Venus at 6 a.m. on October 25, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
10/17/2012 – Ephemeris – Autumn wonders for binoculars or small telescope: The Alpha Persei Association
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 17th. The sun will rise at 8:00. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 6:53. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 8:21 this evening.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. At 8 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest approaching another red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars. They will be closest in a few days. The moon will be nearby too. Mars will set at 8:45. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 9:17 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 4:52 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:44 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy for a few more weeks without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Antares, and the moon at 7:50 p.m. on October 17, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The moon at this scale is over exposed.
The actual phase of the moon in the chart above. Created using Stellarium.
The morning sky.
The morning skies including Jupiter and Venus at 6 a.m. on October 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
10/10/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Oct 10. This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 10th. The sun will rise at 7:52. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 7:05. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:22 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn will set at 7:45 p.m., while Mars will set at 8:56. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 9:45 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:28 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now in Leo outshining the star Regulus next to it. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy for a few more weeks without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars is approaching Antares at 8 p.m. on October 10, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Morning Sky at 6 a.m. with Jupiter and Venus on October 11, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Note that the moon is really a thin crescent and is over blown at this scale.
10/05/2012 – Ephemeris – Tonight’s astronomical events in Traverse City
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 3rd. The sun will rise at 7:43. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 35 minutes, setting at 7:18. The moon, 4 days past full, will rise at 8:59 this evening.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 8:10 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:08. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 10:09 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:13 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now in Leo outshining the star Regulus next to it. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy them without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and the waning gibbous moon at 11 p.m. October 5, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with its moons at 11 p.m. October 5, 2012. Created using Stellarium. Stellarium shows the moons much brighter than they actually appear. compared to Jupiter.
10/03/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Wednesday, October 3rd. The sun will rise at 7:43. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 35 minutes, setting at 7:18. The moon, 4 days past full, will rise at 8:59 this evening.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 8:10 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:08. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 10:09 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:13 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now in Leo outshining the star Regulus next to it. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy them without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Antares low in the southwest at 8:20 p.m. on October 3, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Mars is moving towards Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. They have the same color. Mars, though will be dimmed and will pass north of the red giant star.
Morning skies including Jupiter and Venus at 6 a.m. on October 4, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Click on the image to enlarge.
09/26/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 26th. The sun will rise at 7:34. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 7:31. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:00 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 8:36 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:21. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 10:40 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 3:56 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now moving between Cancer and Leo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy them without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Saturn low in twilight September 26, 2012 8 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Note that Mercury has already set.
The winter stars in the morning with Jupiter and Venus on September 27, 2012 at 6 a.m. Created using Stellarium.
09/19/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 19th. The sun will rise at 7:26. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 7:44. The moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 9:40 this evening.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 9:02 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:33. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 11:07 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 3:45 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now moving through Cancer towards Leo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, the moon and Saturn at 8:30 p.m. on September 19, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Note that the sky will be brighter than this. The moon will be a thin crescent, and not at all bright. tell me if you can spot these guys.
Jupiter, nearly an hour after rising – midnight September 20, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus among the star of winter at 6 a.m. on September 20, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
On a personal note
This would have been my mother’s 100th birthday. She passed away 34 years ago. It is she who first taught me the constellations.
09/12/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 12th. The sun will rise at 7:18. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 7:57. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 4:34 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars, Saturn and the star Spica make an elongated triangle in the west southwest in twilight after sunset. Mars is on the left with Saturn on the upper right and Spica below. It may take binoculars to spot them. Spica will set first at 8:57 followed by Saturn at 9:28 and Mars at 9:51. It’s getting harder and harder to spot these guys each evening. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, will actually rise before midnight at which will rise at 11:29 p.m. in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:33 a.m. also in the east northeast. Jupiter is near the head of Taurus the bull, while Venus is in Cancer. The moon will be near it tomorrow morning, as it is this morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and the moon on September 12, at 5:30 a.m. Created using Stellarium.
Planets Mars, Saturn and the star Spica in twilight at 8:30 p.m. on September 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The planets Venus and Jupiter among the winter stars visible ay 5:30 a.m. September 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 