Archive
07/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Sun and planet viewing tonight
Ephemeris for Friday, July 6th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 9:29. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:06 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:05.
This evening the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory at 8 p.m. This meeting will be devoted to viewing the sun through the society’s new solar telescope. After that starting at 9 p.m. Will be a star party. For both events, the public is welcome. The tiny planet Mars and the ringed planet Saturn will be visible as will a number of binary stars and brighter wonders of the heavens as the skies darken. Mercury is now receded toward the sun so is not visible. For the rest of the abbreviated planet report this week: A note for early risers that Jupiter and Venus make a fine sight low in the east northeast in the morning after 5 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
06/27/12012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Wednesday, June 27th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:40 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:59.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mercury is in the evening sky but very low in the west northwest about 45 minutes after sunset. It will set at 11:04 p.m. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening entering the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 1:15 a.m. Saturn will be in the south southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 2:21 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 3:53 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen below Jupiter after it rises at 4:23 a.m. [They 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. Bracketed text was omitted from the audio program due to time constraints.
Addendum
Mercury, Mars and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. on June 27, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The eastern sky with Jupiter and Venus. at 5:15 a.m. June 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
06/25/2012 – Venus and Jupiter in the morning and Mercury in th evening
Ephemeris for Monday, June 25th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:41 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:59.
You’ve got to be an early riser for this, say about quarter after 5. Venus and Jupiter will appear close together low in the east northeast in the growing twilight. It’s reminiscent of their evening show. However their paths will not cross. The brighter Venus appears below and to the left of the dimmer Jupiter. They will be their closest around July 3rd. Then Jupiter will outpace Venus. In the evening sky the dim planet Mercury is making an appearance. Start looking to the west northwest about 10:15 for this elusive planet. Here binoculars will help. The bright stars Pollux and Castor are to its right and nearly in a horizontal line to it. Mercury, though is brighter than they are so you should spot Mercury first.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and Venus in the Morning June 25th 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury with the stars Pollux and Castor to its right at 10:15 p.m. June 25th, 2012 Created using Stellarium.
06/21/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Thursday, June 21st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 10:48 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week, one day late. Mercury is in the evening sky but very low in the west northwest about 45 minutes after sunset. It will set at 11:09 p.m. Mars is in the west southwest in the evening between the constellations Leo the lion and Virgo with its unmistakable bright reddish color. Mars will be setting in the west at 1:33 a.m. Saturn will be in the south southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 2:45 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 4:10 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now in the morning sky will rise at 4:45 a.m. In the east northeast. It’s making its debut as the morning star.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking at the fading twilit sky at 10:30 p.m. on June 21, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
This is just an hour after sunset. The moon is really a very thin crescent, and is much dimmer than is shown here. Click to expand. When expanded the images above and below will appear at the same scale.
The eastern sky at 05:00 a.m. on June 22, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
This shows the sky an hour before sunrise tomorrow. In actuality Venus is much brighter than Jupiter.
06/13/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 13th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:28. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:47 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars is in the southwest in the evening between the constellations Leo the lion and Virgo with its unmistakable bright reddish color, though its fading as it retreats from us. Mars will be setting in the west at 1:58 a.m. Saturn will be in the south above the bright star Spica now. It’s due south at 9:41 p.m. and will set at 3:17 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 4:39 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, now in the morning sky is very close to the rising sun, will itself rise at 5:18 a.m. I’m not sure it’s all that visible yet. Mercury is in the evening sky but too close to the sun to be seen, we should be able to spot it the last week of this month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Centered on the southwestern sky at 10:30 p.m. on June 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The planets Saturn, Mars and Mercury. Click to enlarge.
The morning sky in the east at 5 a.m. on June 14, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter rising a bit right of East at 5 a.m. Venus will rise at 5:18 on the 14th. We should see them both next week. Click to enlarge.
06/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 6th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 26 minutes, setting at 9:24. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:31 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is now in the morning sky and very close to the sun, will be seen again in a few weeks. Mars is in the southwest in the evening in the constellation of Leo the lion with its unmistakable bright reddish color, though its fading as it retreats from us. It’s heading eastward toward Virgo. Mars will be setting in the west at 2:20 a.m. Saturn will be in the south above the bright star Spica now. It’s due south at 10:09 p.m. and will set at 3:45 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 5:01 a.m. in the east northeast. Mercury is in the evening sky but too close to the sun to be seen, we should be able to spot it the last week of this month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The planets at 10:15 in the evening. Check out Mercury near the horizon. Created using Stellarium.
5:15 a.m. at 6/7/2012. Morning sky and Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
04/25/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 25th. The sun rises at 6:41. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 8:40. The moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 12:52 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Jupiter is very low in the twilight in the west and may be visible by 9:15 p.m. It will set at 9:44 p.m. Venus is high in the west as it gets dark. Enjoy it now, because it will be gone in 6 weeks. Venus will set at 12:37 a.m. in the west northwest. Venus is 44.8 million miles away and closing. Mars is high in the south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 84 million miles from us and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 9:53 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 4:44 a.m. Saturn will be rising in the east southeast as twilight fades tonight just to the left of the bright star Spica. It will pass due south at 1:03 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking west at Jupiter, Venus and the moon at 9 p.m. on April 25, 2012. Created with Stellarium.
Planets and stars at 10 p.m. on April 25, 2012. Created with Stellarium.
04/18/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets tonight?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 18th. The sun rises at 6:52. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 8:31. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:47 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Jupiter has dropped far below brilliant Venus in the west, since their apparent paths crossed a month and a half ago. Jupiter will set at 10:03 p.m. followed by Venus at 12:39 a.m. Venus is 49.6 million miles away and closing. Mars is high in the south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 79.4 million miles from us and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 10:18 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 5:15 a.m. Saturn will be rising in the east southeast as twilight fades tonight just to the left of the bright star Spica. It will pass due south at 1:32 a.m. All the bright planets except Mercury are now visible in the evening.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The sky and the evening planets at 9:30 p.m. on April 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
04/11/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 11th. The sun will rise at 7:04. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 8:23. The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 2:19 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus and Jupiter have separated quite far apart in the western sky after sunset. Jupiter is below Venus, the brighter planet. Jupiter will set at 10:22 p.m. followed by Venus at 12:37 a.m. Venus is 55.2 million miles away and closing. Mars is high in the southeast to south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 75 million miles and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 10:46 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 5:40 a.m. Saturn will rise at 8:30 p.m. just to the left of the bright star Spica in the east southeast. It will pass due south at 2:02 a.m. All the bright planets except Mercury are now visible in the evening.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Sky and planets at 9:20 p.m. April 11, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
04/04/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 4th. The sun will rise at 7:17. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 8:14. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:13 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus and Jupiter are separating in the western sky after sunset. Jupiter is way below Venus, the brighter planet. Jupiter will set at 10:41 p.m. followed by Venus at 12:28 a.m. It is 59.6 million miles away and closing. Mars is in the southeast to south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 71.1 million miles and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 11:16 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 6:10 a.m. Saturn will rise at 9:01 p.m. just to the left of the bright star Spica in the east southeast. It will pass due south at 2:31 a.m. All the bright planets except Mercury are now visible in the evening.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Animation of the planets and moon at sunrise for April 2012
Click on the images to enlarge.
Animation of the planets and moon at sunset for April 2012
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 