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02/25/2015 – Ephemeris – It’s planet day on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 25th. The sun will rise at 7:27. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 6:24. The moon, at first quarter today, will set at 2:28 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets and a fading binocular comet for this week. Brilliant Venus is in the west-southwest by 7 p.m. It will set at 8:55 p.m. It’s separating from Mars which appears below and right of it. The Red Planet will set tonight at 8:46 p.m. Jupiter will appear In the southeastern sky in the evening. It will be up just about all night, and will set at 6:44 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the brightest star-like object in the sky. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 1:48 a.m. It’s in the south at 6 a.m. Comet Lovejoy, visible in binoculars, is about half way from the star at the end of Andromeda, called Almaak and the “W” of Cassiopeia.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars low in the west after sunset. This is 7 p.m., February 25, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with the first quarter moon and the winter stars at 9 p.m., February 25, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Closeup of the Moon and Aldebaran at 9 p.m. on February 25, 2015. They appeared their closest at 6 p.m. They might be glimpsed with binoculars or a small telescope at that time.
Jupiter and it’s moons at 9 p.m. February 25, 2015. Note that at this time the Great Red Spot is on the face if Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Looking southward at Saturn and a preview of the summer constellations at 6 a.m. February 26, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 6 a.m., February 26, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The track of Comet 2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) from 2/25/15 to 03/03/15 which will appear high in the west at 9 p.m. The comet is approaching Cassiopeia. The comet is dropping below binocular visibility, so this is the last time I will cover it on this blog. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
02/20/2015 – Ephemeris – The Moon joins Venus and Mars in the west tonight
Ephemeris for Friday, February 20th. The sun will rise at 7:35. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 42 minutes, setting at 6:17. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 8:49 this evening.
Tonight the two day old moon will be seen in the west in a tight triangle with Venus and Mars. They will become visible about 7 o’clock. The planets will be to the left of the Moon with much dimmer Mars above Venus. The formation is tight enough that the motion of the moon will be evident between 7 and when the Moon sets at 8:49. The moon moves its own diameter in about an hour. The moon will also exhibit earthshine, the reflection of the bright earth in the moon’s sky on the night side of the Moon itself. The earthshine lit part of the moon shows a ghostly man in the moon image we are familiar with at full moon. This earthshine is visible on the Moon for a few days before new moon to a few days after new moon.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Views of the Venus, Mars, Moon grouping from three locations.
Appearance of the grouping from northern Michigan, US
Venus and Mars with the Moon at 7 p.m. EST on February 20, 2015. This is for northern Michigan. Created using Stellarium.
Appearance of the grouping from Los Angeles, CA
Venus and Mars with the Moon at 8 p.m. PST on February 20, 2015. This is for Los Angeles, CA. Created using Stellarium.
Appearance of the grouping from London, UK
Venus and Mars with the Moon at 20:28 GMT on February 20, 2015. This is for London, UK. Created using Stellarium.
02/19/2015 – Ephemeris – What’s a conjunction?
Ephemeris for Thursday, February 19th. The sun will rise at 7:37. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 6:16. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 7:32 this evening.
Saturday night* Venus will be in conjunction with Mars. To me the best sight will be tomorrow night when the thin crescent moon will join the two planets in a very picturesque triangle. Conjunctions are terms shared between astronomers and astrologers and why shouldn’t they be, astrology is, in my opinion, astronomy’s illegitimate parent. To astronomers conjunctions are when two solar system objects are directly north and south of each other (the same right ascension). Astrologers have the conjunction on the same date, but most will say it’s occurring in Aries. Astronomers in the other hand can see that the two planets are now seen against the stars of western Pisces. Most astrologers don’t recognize the precession of the earth’s axis, it’s 26,000 year wobble in their calculations.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
* As reported in the radio program it was Sunday. However the two planets appear closest Saturday night. 7 p.m. EST ( UT – 5 hr) on the 21st is actually 0 hr UT on the 22nd (Sunday).
Addendum
Venus and Mars in conjunction at 7 p.m. EST February 21, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The big picture: In a conjunction planets simply happen to appear along a line of sight from the Earth. They have nothing to do with each other. This is the location of the planets Earth, Venus and Mars on February 22, 2015. Created using Celestia.
Below see the shift of the vernal equinox or first point of Aries, as it’s sometimes called has shifted from 150 CE in Ptolemy’s day to today.
The vernal equinox in 150 CE. Note that Aries to the left. The Sun travels on the ecliptic line (The diagonal line) from right to left. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The vernal equinox today, in 2015 CE. Note that Aries has slid off to the left. The Sun travels on the ecliptic line (The diagonal line) from right to left. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
02/18/2015 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is bright planet day (or night) on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 18th. The sun will rise at 7:38. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 6:15. The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Lets take a look at the bright planets and a fading binocular comet for this week. Brilliant Venus is in the west-southwest by 7 p.m. It will set at 8:37 p.m. It’s nearing Mars which appears above and left of it. They will be at their closest on the 22nd. The Red Planet will set tonight at 8:45 p.m. Jupiter will appear In the southeastern sky in the evening. It will be up all night, and will set at 7:14 a.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the brightest star-like object in the sky. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 2:15 a.m. Comet Lovejoy, visible in binoculars, is about half way from the star at the end of Andromeda, called Almaak and the “W” of Cassiopeia.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars low in the west after sunset. This is 7 p.m., February 18, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Mars and the moon on Friday night at 7 p.m. (2/20/15). Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with the winter constellations at 9 p.m., February 18, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and it’s moons at 9 p.m. February 18, 2015. Note that at this time the Great Red Spot is on the face if Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The track of Comet 2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) from 2/18/15 to 02/24/15 which will appear high in the west at 9 p.m. On the 20th the comet will pass near M76, a 10th magnitude planetary nebula. It will be much dimmer than the comet. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Looking southward at 6 a.m. February 19, 2015 to a preview of the constellations of summer with Saturn in the south and Jupiter setting in the west. Click to enlarge.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 6 a.m., February 19, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
02/11/2015 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is bright planet day around here
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 11th. The sun will rise at 7:49. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 6:05. The moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 1:52 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets and a binocular comet for this week. Brilliant Venus is in the west-southwest by 7 p.m. It will set at 8:19 p.m. Mars appears above and left of Venus in the southwest. Venus is approaching Mars and they will be at their closest on the 22nd. The Red Planet will set tonight at 8:44 p.m. Jupiter will appear In the southeastern sky in the evening. It will be up all night, and will set just before sunrise. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the brightest star-like object in the sky. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 2:41a.m. Comet Lovejoy, visible in binoculars, is about the width of a binocular field to the right of the star at the end of Andromeda, called Almaak.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars low in the west at 7 p.m. on February 11, 2015. The crescent moon will be seen with the two planets on the evening of the 20th, and they will be in conjunction on the 22nd. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the bright winter stars at 9 p.m. on February 11, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as they might appear in a telescope tonight. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The Moon will appear near Saturn at 6 a.m. February 12, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 6 a.m. on February 12, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 6 a.m., February 12, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The track of Comet 2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) from 2/11/15 to 02/17/15 which will appear high in the west at 9 p.m. Toward the end of the period the comet will pass near M76, a 10th magnitude planetary nebula. It will be much dimmer than the comet. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
02/04/2015 – Ephemeris – We have 4 bright planets and a fading comet
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 4th. The sun will rise at 7:58. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 5:55. The moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 6:59 this evening.
Lets take a look at the bright planets and a reasonably bright comet for this week. Brilliant Venus is in the west-southwest by 6:30 p.m. It will set at 8 p.m. Mars appears above and left of Venus in the southwest. Both of them are in the constellation of Aquarius. The Red Planet will set tonight at 8:43 p.m. Jupiter, 2 days from being in opposition from the sun, and opposite the sun in the sky, when it will be rising at sunset and setting at sunrise will rise tonight in the east at 5:49 p.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion. It will be seen above the Moon at 9 p.m. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 3:06 a.m. Comet Lovejoy, visible in binoculars, is near the star at the end of Andromeda, called Almaak.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Evening
Venus and Mars low in the west with the setting autumn constellations and a few northern summer stars at 7 p.m. on February 4, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter the Moon and the bright winter stars at 8 p.m. on February 4, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons as they might appear in a telescope. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 8 p.m. on February 4, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The track of Comet 2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) from 2/04/15 to 02/10/15 which will appear high in the west at 9 p.m. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Morning
Saturn will appear above the red giant star Antares at 6 a.m. February 5, 2015. At this time Jupiter and the Moon will appear above the western horizon. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 6 a.m., February 5, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
01/28/2015 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is bright planet and comet day on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 28th. The sun will rise at 8:06. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 5:45. The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:37 tomorrow morning.
Lets take a look at the bright planets and a pretty bright comet for this week. Venus is in the west-southwest by 6:30 p.m. It will set at 7:41. Mercury is now too close to the direction of the sun to be seen. Mars appears above and left of Venus in the southwest, and is in the constellation of Aquarius. The Red Planet will set tonight at 8:42 p.m. Jupiter, 9 days from being in opposition from the sun, and opposite the sun in the sky, when it will be rising at sunset and setting at sunrise will rise tonight in the east at 6:27 p.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 3:32 a.m. Comet Lovejoy, visible in binoculars, is near the short end of the constellation of Triangulum.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars with the setting autumn constellations at 7 p.m. January 28, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, the Moon and the constellations of winter at 9 p.m. January 28, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What the moon might look like in binoculars at 9 p.m. January 28, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Jupiter and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 9 p.m., January 28, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Saturn and a preview of the summer constellations at 6:30 a.m. January 29, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 6:30 a.m., January 29, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
Comet Lovejoy
The track of Comet Lovejoy for the next week (from 1/28/2015 to 2/03/2015 at 9 p.m.) Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
There are some fuzzy objects in this part of the sky. However only M31, the Great Andromeda Galaxy, is bright enough to be mistaken for the comet. Next Tuesday and Wednesday the comet will appear close to Almaak (γ Andromedae), a 2nd magnitude star. Note: six of the seven Big Dipper stars are 2nd magnitude.
01/22/2015 – Ephemeris – Let’s spot the Moon and Mars with a bonus look at Neptune
Ephemeris for Thursday, January 22nd. The sun will rise at 8:11. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 5:37. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 8:44 this evening.
Tonight the crescent moon is nearing Mars low in the southwest in the early evening. The motion of Mars has been interesting for the last few months. Even though the Sun is overtaking it in the sky, it has been setting later each night, not earlier. This is due to the fact Mars is moving northeasterly in the sky, and the sun also is setting later. The moon, is a thin crescent. In binoculars, the terminator is crossing the small, near circular Sea of Crises near the top of the crescent. Lower down, in binoculars and especially in small telescopes a beautiful crater of Langrenus is fully visible. I have a picture of it from Apollo 8, a photograph from orbit. It looks pretty much like it will be visible tonight only a lot clearer.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Magnified field with Mars, and the Moon. Neptune is also in the field for 7 p.m. January 22, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
The Moon with Earth shine at 7 p.m. January 22, 2015. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas and GIMP.
The crater Langrenus as imaged by the Apollo 8 crew on their historic orbiting of the Moon Christmas Eve 1968. Credit: NASA.
01/21/2015 – Ephemeris – Our weekly look at the bright planets and a comet
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 21st. The sun will rise at 8:12. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 5:35. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 7:29 this evening.
Lets take a look at the bright planets and a pretty bright comet for this week. Venus and Mercury are close low in the southwest by 6:30 p.m.. Mercury is about 8 moon widths at about 4 o’clock angle from the brighter Venus. Tonight the Noon will be above and between them. Mercury will set at 6:59, while Venus will set at 7:22 p.m. Mars appear above and left of Venus in the southwest, and is in the constellation of Aquarius. The Red Planet will set tonight at 8:41 p.m. Jupiter will rise in the east at 6:59 p.m. It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion. Early risers will be able to spot Saturn which will rise in the east-southeast at 3:57 a.m. Comet Lovejoy, visible in binoculars, is a bit more than the width of a fist to the right of the Pleiades.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury and the crescent Moon, which will be a lot dimmer than seen here, with Mars at 6:30 p.m. January 21, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
One day old Moon at 6:30 p.m., January 21, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the winter constellations at 9 p.m., January 21, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and 4 Galilean moons through a telescope. The moon’s aren’t really that bright compared to Jupiter. The time for this observation will be 9 p.m. January 21, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The track of Comet Lovejoy for the next week (from 1/21/2015 to 1/27/2015 at 9 p.m.) Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).
What we need in the depths of winter, a preview of the summer stars, 5 months hence, but at 7 a.m. January 22, 2015. Saturn is visible in Scorpius. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its moons at 7 a.m., January 22, 2015. Actually only Titan would be visible in small telescopes. Created using Stellarium.
Here’s your chance to find Neptune – tonight only
Mars and Neptune tonight only. Here is where Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts) puts them at 7 p.m. January 19, 2015. They will be low in the southwest. Mars is second magnitude, Neptune is 8th.
The outer red circle matches that of the popular Telrad telescope finder and is a bit smaller (4º) than 7 or 10 power binoculars. The smaller circle is a 2° circle. It will take binoculars at least and a clear sky to spot this outermost planet.
Galileo actually recorded Neptune with his primitive telescope when Jupiter passed it. But to Galileo it was simply a background star.
Note: The 7 p.m. time in the caption is local to western lower Michigan. My location is 43 minutes behind Eastern Standard Time. If you are near your time meridian the time is more likely 6:15 p.m. This normally isn’t a big deal, but These planets are close to setting.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 