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03/20/2019 – Ephemeris – The first look, of spring, at the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 7:55, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:44. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 7:35 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Looking down we see the Earth which will reach a point in its orbit at 5:58 p.m. (21:58 UT) where spring will start. Mars will be in the west-southwestern sky this evening. It will set at 12:37 a.m. Mars is fading as the Earth, in its inner and faster orbit is leaving Mars behind. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 2:55 a.m. in the east-southeast It is second to Venus in brightness. Saturn will be next to rise at 4:40 a.m., also in the east-southeast. Venus will rise at 6:26 a.m. also in the east-southeast By 7 in the morning they will be strung out from the southeast to the south. They will be a beautiful sight as morning twilight advances.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon and the bright stars on the first day of spring at 9 p.m. March 20, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The full moon, and super moon at that, at 9 p.m. March 20, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and the constellations at 7 a.m. tomorrow March 21, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with the same magnification at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning March 21, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on March 20, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Note the motion of the Moon from sunrise and sunset. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
03/13/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s find the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 46 minutes, setting at 7:46, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:57. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 3:06 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. We are back to one evening planet visible now. Mars will be in the west-southwestern sky this evening and will set at 12:39 a.m. Mars is fading as the Earth, in its inner and faster orbit is leaving Mars behind at 175 million miles (282 million km) away. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 3:20 a.m. in the east-southeast It is second to Venus in brightness. Saturn will be next to rise at 5:06 a.m., also in the east-southeast It will be to the upper right of Venus which will rise at 6:30 a.m. By 7 in the morning they will be strung out from the southeast to the south. They will be a beautiful sight as morning twilight advances.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon with the brighter stars at 9 p.m. March 13, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tonight at 9 p.m. March 13, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and the constellations at 7 a.m. Tomorrow March 14, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with the same magnification at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning March 14, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on March 13, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
03/06/2019 – Ephemeris – Looking at the bright naked eye planets for this week
Ephemeris for Ash Wednesday, March 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 6:36, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:10. The Moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. We have two evening planets visible now. Tiny and elusive Mercury is really hard to spot low in the west from about 7 p.m. until it sets at 7:52 p.m. It is fading fast. Binoculars are the only way to spot it now. Mars will be in the west-southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:42 p.m. Mars too is fading. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 2:45 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness. Saturn will be next to rise at 4:32 a.m. It will be to the upper right of Venus which will rise at 5:32 a.m. tomorrow. By 6 in the morning they will be string out from the southeast to the south. They will be a beautiful sight as morning twilight advances.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Mercury at 7:15 p.m. tonight March 6, 2019. I had to increase the star and planet brightness to make Mercury appear in the bright twilight because it has dropped to second magnitude. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and the constellations at 6 a.m. Tomorrow March 7, 2019. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning March 7, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on March 6, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 7th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/27/2019 – Ephemeris – All the classical planets from antiquity are now visible
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 6:27, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:22. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 3:46 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. We have two evening planets visible now. Tiny and elusive Mercury should be visible low in the west from about 7 p.m. to about 7:45 p.m. It should be visible for the next few days. Binoculars are a big help in spotting it. Mars will be in the west-southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:44 p.m. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 3:05 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness. Saturn will be next to rise at 4:57 a.m. It will be to the upper right of Venus which will rise at 5:31 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes Saturn will show its rings and Venus will show a small slightly gibbous moon shape which will shrink and grow more full over the next months
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Mercury at 7 p.m. tonight February 17, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and the Moon at 6:30 a.m. Tomorrow February 28, 2019. The actual Moon image is below. Created using Stellarium.
The moon as it might appear in binoculars tomorrow morning, February 28, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with the same magnification at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning February 28, 2019. Ganymede is behind Jupiter at that hour. See the table of Jupiter moon events tomorrow morning. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
| Satellite | Event | Date | UT | EST |
| Ganymede | Eclipse start | 28 Feb 2019 | 06:16 | — |
| Ganymede | Eclipse end | 28 Feb 2019 | 08:21 | 3:21 a.m. |
| Europa | Shadow start | 28 Feb 2019 | 11:09 | 6:09 a.m. |
| Ganymede | Occultation start | 28 Feb 2019 | 11:13 | 6:13 a.m. |
| Ganymede | Occultation end | 28 Feb 2019 | 13:23 | — |
| Europa | Shadow end | 28 Feb 2019 | 13:31 | — |
| Europa | Transit start | 28 Feb 2019 | 13:34 | — |
| Io | Eclipse start | 28 Feb 2019 | 13:42 | — |
| Europa | Transit end | 28 Feb 2019 | 15:58 | — |
| Io | Occultation end | 28 Feb 2019 | 17:06 | — |
Jupiter satellites will have a busy morning. Events with EST times are visible from Northern Michigan. Events with UT only times are visible in other longitudes in the western hemisphere.
Times are provided by the Project Pluto: https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm.
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 27, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 28th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/20/2019 – Ephemeris – Theoretical all 5 bright planets are now visible
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 42 minutes, setting at 6:18, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:34. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 7:47 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. We have two evening planets visible now. Tiny and elusive Mercury should be visible low in the west for about a half hour after 7 p.m. It should be visible for a little over a week. Binoculars are a big help in spotting it. Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:46 p.m. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 3:32 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness. Saturn will be next to rise at 5:22 a.m. It is just to the right of Venus which will rise at 5:29 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes Saturn will show its rings and Venus will show a small slightly gibbous moon shape which will shrink and grow more full over the next months
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Mercury and bright stars in twilight at 7 p.m. February 20, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and the Moon at 6:30 a.m. February 21, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. created using Stellarium.
The waning gibbous Moon as it should appear tomorrow morning with binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and Venus with the same magnification at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning February 21, 2019. See the table of Jupiter moon events tomorrow morning. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
| Satellite | Event | Date | UT | EST | Notes |
| Ganymede | Occultation start | 21 Feb 2019 | 07:05:00 AM | 2:05 a.m. | Not visible from Michigan |
| Europa | Shadow start | 21 Feb 2019 | 08:36:00 AM | 3:36 a.m. | |
| Ganymede | Occultation end | 21 Feb 2019 | 09:15:00 AM | 4:15 a.m. | |
| Europa | Transit start | 21 Feb 2019 | 10:57:00 AM | 5:57 a.m. | |
| Europa | Shadow end | 21 Feb 2019 | 10:58:00 AM | 5:58 a.m. | |
| Io | Eclipse start | 21 Feb 2019 | 11:49:00 AM | 6:49 a.m. | |
| Europa | Transit end | 21 Feb 2019 | 01:21:00 PM | 8:27 a.m. | Not visible from Michigan |
Jupiter satellite events are from https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 20, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/13/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 6:08, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:44. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 3:10 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet visible now is Mars. It will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:48 p.m. Mercury should become visible next week. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 3:55 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and now is west of Venus. In small telescopes up to four of Jupiter’s moons are visible. Venus, which is about to pass Saturn next Monday morning, will rise at 5:24 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes it is a smalls slightly gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more toward full as its size shrinks as it moves around and behind the Sun. Saturn will rise at 5:47 a.m. tomorrow in the east-southeast.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon tonight at 8 p.m. February 13, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Uranus as it would be seen in binoculars or small telescope at 8 p.m. February 13, 2018. The planets will be about a degree apart (2 Moon widths). Created using Stellarium.
The Moon and Aldebaran at 8 p.m. February 13, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets at 6:30 a.m. February 14, 2019. Saturn is joining Venus and Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning February 14, 2019. The moon Io is behind the planet at that time. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 13, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/06/2019 – Ephemeris – Saturn is back, and a look at some other bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 2 minutes, setting at 5:58, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:54. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 7:47 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:50 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 4:17 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and now is west of Venus. In small telescopes up to four of Jupiter’s moons are visible. Venus will rise at 5:17 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes it is a featureless slightly gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more toward full as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun. Saturn is making an appearance in morning twilight rising at 6:12 a.m. tomorrow in the east-southeast.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the evening constellations tonight at 8 p.m. February 6, 2019. Note the faint planet Uranus near Mars. They will appear only a degree apart next Wednesday night for a telescopic treat. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Venus, and the rising Saturn at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning February 7, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning February 7, 2019. Io is just peeking out on the lower left edge, though not quite showing up in this chart. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 6, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 7th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/30/2019 – Ephemeris – Looking for the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 5:48, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:03. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:55 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:53 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Jupiter which will rise tomorrow at 4:39 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and now is west of Venus. In small telescopes up to four of Jupiter’s moons are visible. The waning crescent Moon will be between the two planets tomorrow morning. Venus will rise at 5:08 a.m. tomorrow. In small telescopes it is a featureless slightly gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more toward full as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the evening constellations tonight at 8 p.m. January 30, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, the Moon and Jupiter in the morning at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 31, 2019. Saturn will rise at 6:37 tomorrow morning into twilight. It will make our morning planet view next week. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The waning crescent Moon as it should appear tomorrow morning, January 31, 2019, with earthshine in binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 31, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 30, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 31st. Mercury does not show on these charts because it is south of the Sun, having passed superior conjunction on the 29th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/23/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s check out where the bright planets are for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 5:38, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:10. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 8:59 this evening.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:55 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:59 a.m. tomorrow and is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is a featureless slight gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more gibbous as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 5:01 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, and is west of Venus, but south, so Venus still rises first by 2 minutes. They will appear nearly side by side as they rise.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars with the evening stars and constellations tonight at 8 p.m. January 23, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Jupiter and the Moon in the morning at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 24, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
The waning gibbous Moon as it should appear tomorrow morning with binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 24, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 23, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 24th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/16/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 16th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 5:29, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:15. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 4:20 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:57 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:49 a.m. tomorrow and is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is a featureless slight gibbous moon shape. Its phase will now grow more gibbous as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around and behind the Sun. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 5:22 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, but second to no planet in size. Binoculars can see some of its biggest moons. Telescopes can see all four.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and the Moon with the evening stars tonight at 8 p.m. January 16, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The waxing gibbous Moon as it should appear tonight in binoculars. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter in the morning at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 17, 2019. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning January 17, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 16, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 17th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 