Archive
09/05/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 5th. The sun will rise at 7:10. It’ll be up for 13 hours exactly, setting at 8:10. The moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:24 this evening.
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. Spica will set first at 9:24 followed by Saturn at 9:57 and Mars at 10:07. This will be about the last week you’ll see Saturn and Spica in the evening until next year.. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, which will rise at 11:54 p.m. in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:23 a.m. also in the east northeast. Jupiter is near the head of Taurus the bull, while Venus is moving between Gemini and Cancer.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Saturn and the star Spica at 9 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Venus and a preview of the stars and constellations of winter. Created using Stellarium.
08/29/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 29th. The sun will rise at 7:02. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 8:23. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:04 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars Saturn and the star Spica make a bright but elongating triangle in the west southwest after sunset. Mars is on the upper left with Saturn on the upper right and Spica below. They are located in the constellation Virgo the virgin. Saturn will be setting in the west at 10:20 p.m, and Mars will set 3 minutes later. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, which will rise at 12:23 a.m. in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:16 also in the east northeast. Jupiter is near the head of Taurus the bull, while Venus is moving between Gemini and Cancer. Early morning is a good time to get a preview of winter stars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Saturn and Spica at 9:30 p.m. on August 29, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Venus and the stars of winter rising at 5:30 a.m. on August 30, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
08/22/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 22nd. The sun rises at 6:53. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 41 minutes, setting at 8:35. The moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:58 this evening. | Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars Saturn and the star Spica make a bright triangle in the west southwest after sunset. Mars is on the upper left with Saturn on the upper right and Spica below. They are located in the constellation Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 10:41 p.m, and Saturn will set at 11:46. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, which will rise at 12:47 a.m. in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:11 also in the east northeast. Venus’ rising times are now getting later after its greatest elongation last week. The bright star Aldebaran in Taurus the bull will appear just to the right and a bit below Jupiter tomorrow morning
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The planets and the moon low in the west southwest at 9:30 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Jupiter and the winter stars at 5:30 a.m. on August 23rd. Created using Stellarium.
08/15/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 15th. The sun rises at 6:45. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 1 minute, setting at 8:47. The moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 5:45 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars Saturn and the star Spica make a bright skinny triangle in the west southwest after sunset. Mars is in the middle between Saturn on the top and Spica. They are located in the constellation Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 10:59 p.m. Saturn will set at 11:12. The triangle is going to fatten up over the next week as Mars heads eastward. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, which will rise at 1:12 a.m. in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:08 also in the east northeast. The bright star Aldebaran in Taurus the bull will appear just to the lower right of Jupiter tomorrow morning, but Venus will be at greatest elongation from the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking west at 10 p.m. on August 15, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Looking east at 5 a.m. August 16, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
08/08/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 8th. The sun rises at 6:37. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 20 minutes, setting at 8:57. The moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:50 this evening.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars Saturn and the star Spica make a bright triangle in the west southwest after sunset. Mars is on the lower right and Saturn is the topmost of the three. They are located in the constellation Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 11:17 p.m. Saturn will set at 11:39. Next Monday Mars will pass between Saturn and Spica. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, which will rise at 1:32 in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:09 also in the east northeast. The bright star Aldebaran in Taurus the bull will appear just to the lower right of Jupiter tomorrow morning, but Venus will have dropped farther below Jupiter, as it stays near the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking west at 10:30 p.m. on August 8, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Looking eastward at 5 a.m. on August 9, 2012. Orion is also rising along with Jupiter and Venus. Created using Stellarium.
The trio of Mars, Saturn and the star Spica from August 11th through the 18th. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts)
08/01/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 1st. The sun rises at 6:29. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 37 minutes, setting at 9:07. The moon, at full today, will rise at 8:33 this evening.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars Saturn and the star Spica make a bright triangle in the west southwest after sunset. Mars is on the right and Saturn is the topmost of the three. They are located in the constellation Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 11:38 p.m. Saturn will set at 12:05 a.m. At mid-month Mars will pass between Saturn and Spica. The morning sky features the two brightest planets: Jupiter, which will rise at 1:59 in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:13 also in the east northeast. The bright star Aldebaran in Taurus the bull will appear just to the right of Jupiter tomorrow morning, but Venus will have dropped farther below Jupiter, as it stays by the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking southwest at 10:30 p.m. on August 1, 2012. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
Looking east at 5 a.m. August 2, 2012. That’s Orion rising below Jupiter and Venus. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
07/25/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 25th. The sun rises at 6:21. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 9:15. The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:17 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 11:55 p.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left. Saturn will be in the west southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 12:32 a.m. The moon passed the group last night as is just east of them now. Jupiter will rise at 2:22 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen below Jupiter after it rises at 3:20 a.m. Tomorrow morning, the bright star Aldebaran will appear below and right of Jupiter. Venus is falling off to the lower left of Jupiter as Jupiter moves away from the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Saturn and the moon at 10:30 p.m. 07/25/2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus with bright morning stars including those of Orion at 5:30 a.m. on 7/26/2012. Created using Stellarium.
07/18/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 18th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 9:22. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:53 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:15.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 12:14 a.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left. Saturn will be in the southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 12:59 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 2:45 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen just below Jupiter after it rises at 3:31 a.m. Tomorrow morning, the bright star Aldebaran will appear between the two before twilight gets too bright before 5 a.m. All these planets except Mars, which is too small, are great to view in a telescope.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Saturn in Virgo at 10:30 p.m. on July 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus at 5 a.m. on July 19, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter are noticeably separating.
07/13/2012 – Ephemeris – The moon will join Venus and Jupiter Sunday morning
Ephemeris for Friday, July 13th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 9:25. The moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:26 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:11.
Sunday Morning maybe isn’t the most convenient time to get up early, but this Sunday it may be worth it. At 5 a.m. or so Jupiter will appear above Venus, as they have for the last few weeks. But Sunday morning the crescent moon will appear right between the two. For other parts of the world the moon will actually pass in front of Jupiter, an event called an occultation. This will occur before sunrise for us. But still the planet and moon group should be a beautiful sight in the twilit sky. Venus and Jupiter will soon separate, Venus to stay near the sun, while Jupiter due to the earth’s orbital motion moves away to rise earlier and earlier by somewhat less than a half hour a week. Jupiter lies in the constellation Taurus now.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and the moon on July 15, 2012 at 5 a,m, Created using Stellarium.
07/11/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 11th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 9:27. The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:18 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:09.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 12:34 a.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left. Saturn will be in the southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 1:26 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 3:08 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen just below Jupiter after it rises at 3:45 a.m. Tomorrow morning, Venus will appear next to the bright star Aldebaran. The planets are striking in telescopes with Venus as a large thin crescent, and Jupiter with its cloud bands and satellites.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking westward at 10:30 p.m. on July 11, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Click on image to enlarge.
Looking eastward at 5 a.m. on July 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Note Aldebaran near Venus. Aldebaran is the brightest star in the winter constellation Taurus the bull. Note the Pleiades star cluster above Jupiter. Well worth a look with binoculars.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 