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09/23/2014 – Ephemeris – NASA’s MAVEN satellite is in orbit of Mars
Ephemeris for Tuesday, September 23rd. The sun will rise at 7:30. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 7:37. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:53 tomorrow morning.
Last Sunday evening the MAVEN spacecraft fired its six main engines in alternating pairs for 33 minutes and was captured by Mars, entering orbit around the Red Planet. MAVEN is one of those NASA acronyms, it stands for Mars Atmospheric and Volatile EvolutioN Once in a capture orbit, the orbit will be changed from a 33 hour orbit to a 4 ½ hour a science orbit. It will investigate how Mars lost its original atmosphere which was dense enough to support liquid water to the thin carbon dioxide atmosphere it has today. It has several duties October 19th when Comet Siding Spring passes Mars to detect the interaction of the comet’s atmosphere with that of Mars. There are no cameras* on Maven, just hard data will be returned.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
* Actually I was mistaken. There is an Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph aboard which will take images in the ultraviolet of Mars upper atmosphere.
Artist’s rendition of the MAVEN spacecraft in Mars Orbit. Credit: Lockheed Martin/NASA.
09/17/2014 – Ephemeris – It’s Wednesday, do you know where the bright planets are?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 17th. The sun will rise at 7:23. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 7:49. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:06 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Mars and Saturn are now nearly side by side with Saturn to the right by 15 degrees, about the width of your fist and a half held at arm’s length. Saturn will set at 10:04 p.m. Saturn is in Libra, while Mars is entering Scorpius just above the star tonight called Dschubba. Mars is closing in to a star that has the identical hue, and this year the same brightness, its rival Antares. Indeed that’s what the star’s name means: Ant as in anti, Ares the Greek god of war, and the counterpart of the Roman Mars. They will be closest next week. Mars will set at 10:25. In the morning sky brilliant Jupiter will rise in the east-northeast at 3:43 a.m., while Venus, will rise at 6:30 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking southwest at Saturn and Mars with the stars of Scorpius and Libra at 9 p.m. on September 17, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn through a telescope. However being so low in the sky even the moon Titan might be hard to see. September 17, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon, Jupiter and Venus with some of the bright stars of winter and spring at 6:45 a.m. on September 18, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon at 6:45 a.m. on September 18, 2014. I doubt you’d see Earth shine (the rest of the Moon like this) with the crescent this wide. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter through a telescope. Europa is transiting in front of Jupiter at 6:45 a.m. and will be very difficult or impossible to spot. Stellarium shows that the shadow of Europa is just about directly behind the moon. Created using Stellarium.
09/10/2014 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 10th. The sun will rise at 7:15. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 46 minutes, setting at 8:02. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 8:54 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Mars and Saturn are now nearly side by side with Saturn to the right by 10 degrees, about the width of your fist held at arm’s length. Saturn will set at 10:30 p.m. Saturn in a telescope will suffer because it’s getting close to the horizon but it’s still possible to see those rings and its large moon Titan. Reddish Mars is leaving Saturn in the dusk, leaving Libra, where Saturn is and will be entering Scorpius on Saturday. Mars will set at 10:38 p.m., 8 minutes after Saturn. In the morning sky brilliant Jupiter will rise in the east-northeast at 4:04 a.m., while the brighter Venus, will rise at 6:14 a.m. Jupiter is increasing its distance from the sun, while Venus is retreating toward the Sun from our point of view.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and Mars with the evening summer constellations at 9:30 p.m. September 10, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn through the telescope at 9:30 p.m. September 10, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus with the Winter constellations at 6:30 a.m. September 11, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter and its 4 Galilean moons at 6:30 a.m. on September 11, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The waning gibbous Moon at 6:30 a.m. September 11, 2014. Created using Stellarium. Tomorrow the program will be about the moon and its features that will be visible late in the evening. The terminator will advance by a small bit between tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.
09/01/2014 – Ephemeris – Previewing the month of September
Ephemeris for Labor Day, Monday, September 1st. The sun will rise at 7:04. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 14 minutes, setting at 8:19. The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:02 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the skies for the month of September. The sun will moving at its greatest speed in its retreat to the south. Daylight hours in the Interlochen/Traverse City area and will drop from 13 hours and 14 minutes today to 11 hours 45 minutes on the 30th. The altitude of the sun above the southern horizon at local noon will be 54 degrees today, and will descend to 42 degrees on the 30th. The season of summer is getting short, so enjoy it while you can. Summer ends and autumn begins at 10:30 p.m. on September 22nd. Saturn is retreating toward the sun now. Mars is pushing on eastward. On the 27th Mars will be north of the star Antares. It will be a good time to compare their colors.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
September star chart for 10 p.m. on September 15, 2014. Created by my LookingUp program.
The Moon is not plotted. The planets are plotted for the 15th. Mars will move eastward through the month and will approach Saturn.
Astronomical twilight ends at 10:05 p.m. on September 1st, decreasing to 9:01 on the 30th.
Add a half hour to every week before the 15th and subtract and hour for every week after the 15th.
For a list of constellation names to go with the abbreviations click here.
Also shown is the Summer Triangle in red. Clockwise from the top star is Deneb in Cygnus, Vega in Lyra and Altair in Aquila.
The green pointers from the Big Dipper are:
- Pointer stars at the front of the bowl of the Big Dipper point to Polaris the North Star.
- The arc of the dipper’s handle points to Arcturus.
08/27/2014 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets for this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 27th. The sun will rise at 6:59. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 8:27. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 9:12 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Reddish Mars is in the constellation of Libra the scales, skirting below, left of Saturn in the southwest as darkness falls. It is in conjunction with Saturn today, as it passes due south of the ringed planet. Mars will set at 11:07 p.m. Saturn will set at 11:23 p.m. Saturn viewing with a telescope will suffer because it’s getting close to the horizon but it’s still possible to see those fabulous rings and its large moon Titan. Brilliant Jupiter will rise in the east-northeast at 4:44 a.m. tomorrow, followed by the brighter Venus, which will rise at 5:37 a.m. Jupiter is increasing its distance from the sun, while Venus is retreating toward the Sun from our point of view.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and Mars in conjunction at 9:30 p.m., August 27, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic Saturn. Do not expect to spot any other of Saturn’s moon other than Titan. 9:30 p.m., August 27, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus and the rising winter constellations at 6 a.m. August 28, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter and its 4 Galilean moons at 6 a.m. on August 28, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
08/20/2014 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets for this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 20th. The sun rises at 6:50. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 8:39. The moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:17 tomorrow morning.
Wednesday is bright planet day on Ephemeris. Reddish Mars is on the western edge of Libra the scales, skirting below Saturn in the southwest as darkness falls. It will set at 11:23 p.m. Saturn will be in the southwest, above and left of Mars as darkness falls. It will set at 11:50 p.m. Saturn’s is still great viewing with small or large telescopes to see those fabulous rings and its large moon Titan. Mars will pass Saturn traveling eastward next Wednesday. Brilliant Jupiter will rise in the east-northeast at 5:03 a.m. in morning twilight, followed by the brighter Venus, which will rise 17 minutes later. Jupiter is increasing its distance from the sun, while Venus is retreating toward the Sun from our point of view
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Saturn with the stars of the zodiac from Virgo to Sagittarius at 10 p.m. August 20, 2014. Created with Stellarium.
Saturn and moons through a telescope on August 20, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Venus and the Moon and winter stars at 6 a.m. August 21, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The crescent Moon as seen in binoculars at 6 a.m., August 21, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
08/13/2014 – Ephemeris – This week’s parade of the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 13th. The sun rises at 6:42. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 8:51. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 10:24 this evening.
Wednesday is bright planet day on Ephemeris. Reddish Mars is between the constellations of Virgo and Libra, approaching Saturn in the southwest as darkness falls. It will set at 11:40 p.m. Saturn will be in the southwest, above and left of Mars as darkness falls, in the Libra the scales. It will set at 12:16 a.m. Saturn’s is still great viewing with small or large telescopes to see those fabulous rings and its large moon Titan. Mars will pass Saturn traveling eastward later this month on the 27th. Brilliant Venus will rise in the east-northeast at 5:03 a.m. in morning twilight. Below left of Venus, we welcome back Jupiter which will rise at 5:23 tomorrow morning. Jupiter and Venus will appear to cross paths on the 18th.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Saturn with the zodiacal constellations Virgo, Libra, Scorpius and Sagittarius at 10 p.m. August 13, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its moons. Small telescopes will reveal only Saturn and Titan. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon low in the east at 11 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter at 6 a.m. in the bright morning twilight with the rising stars of winter. Created using Stellarium.
08/06/2014 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is bright planet day on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 6th. The sun rises at 6:34. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 26 minutes, setting at 9:01. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:03 tomorrow morning. | Wednesday is bright planet day on Ephemeris. Reddish Mars is in Virgo in the southwest as darkness falls. It’s 113 million miles (183 million km) away now, over twice as far as it was last April, and will set at 11:58 p.m. Saturn will be low in the south-southwest as darkness falls, in the faint constellation of Libra the scales. It will set at 12:43 a.m. Saturn’s great viewing with small or large telescopes to see those fabulous rings and its large moon Titan. Somewhat larger telescopes can spot some smaller moons closer in. Brilliant Venus will rise in the east northeast at 4:47 a.m. in morning twilight. Dark skies for the Perseid meteor shower will run from 3:03 a.m. to 4:34 a.m. Bright meteors will be visible all night.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The planets Mars and Saturn with the bright stars and the Moon at 10 p.m., August 6, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its satellites through a telescope as seen on the evening of August 6, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it would be seen in binoculars at 10 p.m. , August 7, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and the constellations of winter rising in morning twilight at 5:30 a.m., August 7, 2014.
07/30/2014 – Ephemeris – Wednesday is classic planet day on Ephemeris
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 30th. The sun rises at 6:26. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 9:10. The moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 10:40 this evening.
It’s Wednesday and once again time to look at the bright planets for this week. Reddish Mars is in Virgo in the southwest as darkness falls. It’s 109 million miles (176 million km) away now, over twice as far as it was last April, and will set at 12:17 a.m. Saturn will be low in the south-southwest as darkness falls, in the faint constellation of Libra the scales. It will set at 1:11 a.m. Saturn’s in perfect position for viewing with a small or large telescopes to see those fabulous rings and its large moon Titan. Somewhat larger telescopes can spot some smaller moons closer in. Brilliant Venus will rise in the east northeast
The Moon, Mars and Saturn at 10 p.m. on July 30, 2014. The bright star right of Mars is Spica, and the bright star left of Saturn is Antares. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as seen in binoculars at 10 p.m. on July 30, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its moons on the evening of July 30, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and the winter constellations rising at 5:30 a.m. on July 31, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
at 4:33 a.m. in morning twilight. Mercury will rise at 5:36 and be nearly impossible to spot below Venus.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
07/23/2014 – Ephemeris – It’s Wednesday. Do you know where the bright planets are?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 23rd. The sun rises at 6:19. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 9:18. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 4:28 tomorrow morning.
It’s Wednesday and once again time to locate the bright planets for this week. Reddish Mars is in Virgo in the southwest as darkness falls. It’s 105 million miles (169 million km) away now, nearly 3 times farther away than it was last April, and will set at 12:39 a.m. Saturn will be low in the south-southwest as darkness falls, in the faint constellation of Libra the scales. It will set at 1:38 a.m. Saturn’s in perfect position for viewing with a small or large telescopes to see those fabulous rings and its large moon Titan. Somewhat larger telescopes can spot some smaller moons closer in. Brilliant Venus will rise in the east at 4:22 a.m. in morning twilight. Mercury will rise at 4:46 and be barely visible below Venus. The crescent moon will be right of Venus tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening planets Mars and Saturn with the zodiacal constellations at 10:30 p.m. on July 23, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn through a telescope. In small telescopes of the moons only Titan will be visible. July 23, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Mercury, and the crescent Moon at 5:30 a.m. on July 24, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 