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01/15/14 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 15th. The sun will rise at 8:15. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 5:28. The moon, at full today, will rise at 5:28 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the planets. The giant planet Jupiter is now alone in the evening sky. It will be in the eastern sky as darkness falls tonight. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 12:05 a.m., and will set at 7:42 a.m. in the west northwest. Mars will rise at 12:28 a.m. in the east. Reddish Mars is in Virgo now and to the upper right of the bright star Spica by the three-quarters of the width of your fist held at arm’s length. Saturn will rise at 3:26 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s seen against Libra the scales this year. Venus will rise at 7:18 tomorrow morning, so it may become visible around 7:45 or so very low in the east southeast. It’s sudden appearance has caused come airport tower controllers to give it permission to land.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, the Moon with the winter stars at 9 p.m. on January 15, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The telescopic Jupiter at 9 p.m. and January 15, 2014. The moon Europa is in front or transiting Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
Europa, the smallest of the four Galilean satellites of Jupiter will transit the face of Jupiter tonight. It’s shadow will also cross that planet. The transit starts at 9:02 p.m. Stellarium is slightly off in that regard. Cartes du Ceil is better in that regard. Europa’s shadow starts to cross Jupiter at 9:33 p.m. Europa’s transit ends at 11:43 p.m., while it’s shadow leaves the face of Jupiter at 12:16 a.m. The source for these times is Project Pluto’s Jupiter Satellite Events page.
Mars and Saturn with the spring stars at 6:30 a.m. on January 16, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
For the adventurous, Venus at 7:45 a.m. tomorrow morning January 16, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as it might appear in a telescope at 7:45 a.m. tomorrow morning January 16, 2014. You will not see its night side, just the crescent. Created using Stellarium.
Want to see Venus closer to inferior conjunction? Check out Universe Today’s Virtual Star Party for January 12, 2014.
01/08/2014 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 8th. The sun will rise at 8:18. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 2 minutes, setting at 5:20. The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 2:18 tomorrow morning.
This is our weekly look at the planets. Venus is only three days from passing between the Earth and the Sun in what astronomers call inferior conjunction. Sharp eyed observers may be able to spot it in the bright twilight glow before it sets at 5:57 p.m. tonight. It will then pass into the morning sky. The giant planet Jupiter will be in the eastern sky as darkness falls tonight. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 12:32 a.m., and will set at 8:13 a.m. Mars will rise at 12:39 a.m. in the east. Reddish Mars is in Virgo now and to the upper right of the bright star Spica by the width of your fist held at arm’s length. Saturn will rise at 3:47 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s seen against Libra the scales this year.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
For diehards, Venus 15 minutes before it will set tonight January 8, 2014.
Venus at 3 days before inferior conjunction back in the late 1960’s. My photograph.
Jupiter, the Moon with the winter constellations at 9 p.m. on January 8, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The telescopic moon at 9 p.m. January 8, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The telescopic Jupiter at 9 p.m. and January 8, 2014. The label for the moon Europa overlaps that of Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Saturn with the spring constellations at 6:30 a.m. on January 9, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
01/01/2014 – Ephemeris – A look at events the month and for the next few days and the planets
Note: The two paragraphs below were aired on IPR. They are not my usual Wednesday feature on the planets which is in the addendum. The first few days of January are busy with astronomical happenings. I’ll have a preview of this year’s eclipses on Monday the 6th with the daily and an extra post.
Ephemeris for New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1st, 2014. The sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:13. The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Happy New Year. We’re too busy with astronomical events to preview the year. Today and tomorrow we’ll cover the highlights of this month. We’re a day from the latest sunrise at about the same time as today and will back down to 8:02 by the 31st. Sunset is current increasing by a minute a day and will set at 5:50 at month’s end. Listeners on the shore of Lake Michigan will have about the same sunrise time from Ludington to Mackinaw City, but the sunset times will vary markedly. Jupiter will be in opposition from the sun and rise at sunset on the 4th. This is your last week to see Venus in the evening sky. It will leave the evening sky on the 11th and enter the morning sky. Start looking for the Quadrantid meteor shower that will peak on the 3rd.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
A star chart for January 15th at 9 p.m. Add a half hour to every week before the 15th and subtract and hour for every week after the 15th. Created using my LookingUp program.
For a list of constellation names to go with the abbreviations click here
This is our weekly look at the planets. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 6:36 p.m. Venus is noticeably closing with the sun. It will be lost in the glare of the sun in less than a week. Venus is a thin crescent, and we’re at the point where the crescent can be visible in binoculars. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 5:24 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 1:04 a.m. It will be in opposition from the sun on the 4th, where it will rise at sunset and set at sunrise. Mars will rise at 12:51 a.m. in the east. Reddish Mars is to the upper right of the bright star Spica in Virgo. Saturn will rise at 4:12 a.m. in the east southeast. It will be in Libra this year. The ringed planet will best be seen in the evening next summer. There is a comet visible in binoculars in the morning sky. It’s Comet Lovejoy (C/2013R1).
Venus in the west southwest at 6 p.m. on January 1, 2014. Venus will be harder and harder to spot between now and its inferior conjunction with the sun on the 11th. Created using Stellarium.
Venus’ thin crescent on January 1, 2014 at 6 p.m. The crescent will be bright but the night side will not be visible as Stellarium suggests. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the constellations of winter at 9 p.m. on January 1, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its satellites as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. on January 1, 2014. That actual rotation of the image depends on the telescope. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Saturn among the spring constellations at 6 a.m. January 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
The track of Comet Lovejoy, which still should be visible in binoculars from 01/02/14 to 01/31/14 at 6:30 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
12/25/2015 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets and Comet Lovejoy this week?
Ephemeris for Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th. The sun will rise at 8:18. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:07. The moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 1:34 tomorrow morning.
This is our weekly look at the planets. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:08 p.m. Venus is noticeably closing with the sun. It will be lost in the glare of the sun in less than 2 weeks. Venus is a thin crescent, and we’re at the point where the crescent can be visible in binoculars. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 5:56 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 1:35 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:02 a.m. in the east. Reddish Mars is to the upper right of the bright star Spica. It will be above the moon tomorrow morning. Saturn will rise at 4:36 a.m. in the east southeast. The ringed planet will best be seen in the evening next summer. There is a comet visible in binoculars in the morning sky. It’s Comet Lovejoy.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus in the southwest at 6 p.m. on December 25, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
The thin crescent of Venus seen in a telescope. December 25, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the constellations of winter at 9 p.m. on December 25, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Apparent traffic jam of Jovian satellites as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. on December 25, 2013. That actual rotation of the image depends on the telescope. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Saturn among the spring constellations at 6 a.m. December 26, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as seen in binoculars or telescope at 6 a.m. December 26, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
The track of Comet Lovejoy, which still should be visible in binoculars from 12/26/2013 to 01/01/2014 at 6 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Note that Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel as free programs. Links to them can be found at the right under Free Astronomical Programs.
12/11/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week, plus a consolation comet
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 11th. The sun will rise at 8:09. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:23 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this week. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:44 p.m. Venus has a crescent appearance because it is between the Earth and Sun which is easily seen in telescopes and can be detected in binoculars now. Venus is 57 million kilometers away from us now or 35.4 million miles. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 7 p.m.. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 2:37 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:22 a.m. in the east. Mars is a bit closer to Spica in Virgo than Regulus in Leo, and can be distinguished by its yellow-orange color. Saturn will rise at 5:24 a.m. and should be visible low in the east south east by 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus in the southwest at 6 p.m. on December 11, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as seen in a telescope at 6 p.m. December 11, 2013. The disk will be blindingly bright with no detail. Created using Stellarium.
The gibbous Moon magnified at 9 p.m. on December 11, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and some winter constellations at 9 p.m. on December 11, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. December 11, 2013. The orientation may be rotated or even mirror image. Created using Stellarium.
Mars, Saturn and the ghost of Comet ISON at 6 a.m. on December 12, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Comet Lovejoy finder chart for the next week at 6 a.m. There a bit of a tail at the right edge from the ghost of ISON (It’s not visible). Look in the northeast at the constellation Hercules with binoculars. Created using Cartes du Ciel.
Comet Lovejoy is an easy binocular object. It’s brighter than Comet ISON was in dark skies.
12/04/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 4th. The sun will rise at 8:02. It’ll be up for 9 hours even, setting at 5:02. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 7:15 this evening.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this week. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:51 p.m. The thin crescent moon will be to the right and a bit below Venus tonight. Venus is itself a crescent, and we’re coming to the point where the crescent can be visible in binoculars. Venus is as close to us now as the debris from Comet ISON will ever get to us. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 7:31 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 3:08 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:31 a.m. in the east. Reddish Mars is midway between Regulus in Leo and Spica in Virgo. Saturn will rise at 5:47 a.m. and should be visible low in the east south east by 6:30.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and the Moon in the southwest at 6 p.m. on December 4, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon magnified at 6 p.m. on December 4, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as seen in a telescope at 6 p.m. December 4, 2013. The crescent will be blindingly bright with no detail. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and some winter constellations at 9 p.m. on December 4, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. December 4, 2013. The orientation may be rotated or even mirror image. Created using Stellarium.
Mars, Saturn and the ghost of Comet ISON at 6:30 a.m. on December 5, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
11/27/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets and what’s up with Comet ISON?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 27th. The sun will rise at 7:54. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 5:05. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:46 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this eventful week. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:53 p.m. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 8:01 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 3:38 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:47 a.m. also in the east northeast. Reddish Mars is midway between Regulus in Leo and Spica in Virgo and tomorrow morning will be about 12 moon diameters above left of the moon. Mercury and Saturn will be together in the east southeast by 7 a.m. Mercury is the lower and brighter of the two. Comet ISON is now too close to the sun to be seen. Check bobmoler.wordpress.com (see below) for how to view Comet ISON near the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus as it should appear at 6 p.m. on 11/27/2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus as it should appear at 6 p.m. on 11/27/2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and some winter constellations as they should appear at 10 p.m. on 11/27/2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter and its satellites as they should appear at 10 p.m. on 11/27/2013. The satellite Io is behind the planet and won’t appear until after midnight. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets Mars, Saturn and Mercury plus the Moon at 6:45 a.m. November 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium
The Moon at 6:45 a.m. November 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Comet ISON
Phil Plait the Bad Astronomer reported Monday that Comet ISON had suddenly decreased the amount of ices that it was emitting and pretty much simultaneously greatly increased the amount of dust it was producing. One of the possible explanations was that its nucleus had been disrupted. The comet’s nucleus is the small, maybe 2 km diameter, solid part of the comet. All the other parts of the comet are the thin ejected gas and dust from that nucleus. The head and tail of the comet is still a pretty good vacuum by earthly standards. There is still questions about it today. Here’s a YouTube video posted by the Planetary Society’s Emily Lakdawalla created by Emily from images taken by the STEREO Ahead spacecraft. It seems to be holding its own:
Here is the Planetary Society Blog entry that discusses Comet ISON’s then current status.
At the time of this posting (10 p.m. 11/26) the STEREO Behind COR 2 image shows Comet ISON entering on the lower left. Also SOHO’s LASCO C3 imager shows Comet ISON entering the view from the lower right. There’s also a coronal mass ejection (CME) erupting toward the comet. It could pass behind it, in front of it or actually toward it. It should be interesting.
Live programming of NASA-TV Thanksgiving Day
November 28, Thursday
1 – 3:30 p.m. – NASA Google+ Hangout: Comet ISON – GSFC (All Channels)
Here’s a link to NASA-TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
11/20/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets and Comet ISON this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 20th. The sun will rise at 7:46. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 5:09. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 7:52 this evening.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this week. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:52 p.m. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 8:31 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 7:47 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:47 a.m. also in the east northeast. Reddish Mars is two widths of a fist held at arm’s length below and left of the bright star Regulus in Leo now. Comet ISON is now about magnitude 5, now meeting current brightness predictions, Officially naked eye, you’ll probably still need binoculars to spot it. Comet ISON is below and left of the star Spica low in the east southeast and will rise about 5:50 a.m. and be visible until around 6:30 a.m. above the planet Mercury.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus low in the southwest at 6 p.m., November 20, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus on November 20, 2013. The cloud banding will not be visible. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter in the east at 10 p.m. on November 20, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
A telescopic view of Jupiter at 10 p.m. The moon Io is peeking around Jupiter. Up is to the top. The view in your telescope may vary. Created using Stellarium.
The magnified Moon. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Leo at 6 a.m. November 21, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Chart for finding Comet ISON this morning (November 20, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
Chart for finding Comet ISON this morning (November 21, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
11/13/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets and comets out this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 13th. The sun will rise at 7:36. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 5:16. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:26 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this week. Venus is brilliant in the west southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:49 p.m. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 8:59 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 4:36 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:55 a.m. also in the east northeast. Reddish Mars is nearly two widths of a fist held at arm’s length below and left of the bright star Regulus in Leo now. Comet ISON is approaching the bright star Spica and will pass it Monday morning. ISON has been hanging around magnitude 8, about half as bright as current predictions, but probably visible in small telescopes. Comet ISON will rise about 4:16 a.m. and be visible until around 6:15 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus low in the southwest at 6 p.m. on November 13, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Venus through the telescope. (Note the bands are only visible in UV, not visible light). Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter rising at 10 p.m. with some of the winter stars. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic Jupiter and its moons at 11 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and the spring constellations at 5:30 a.m. November 14, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
This is a busy chart with Comets ISON and Encke and Mercury for the period November 13th through 19th of November 2013 at 6 a.m. Created using Carts du Ciel.
Comet Lovejoy and the constellation Leo for November 13th through 19th, 2013 at 6 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel.
Comet LINEAR track for November 13th through 19th 2013. Created using Cartes du Ciel.
The following are the latest magnitudes (brightnesses) recorded for these comets:
Comet Magnitude C/2012 S1 (ISON) 8 (1 magnitude dimmer than predicted) P2 (Encke) 8 C/2013 R1 (Lovejoy) 6 (2.5 magnitudes brighter than predicted) C/2012 X1 (LINEAR) 8 (5 magnitudes* brighter than predicted) * 5 magnitudes brighter = 100 times brighter! Source is http://www.icq.eps.harvard.edu/CometMags.html. Search page using the C/???? ?? instead of name. Comets Lovejoy and LINEAR have multiple entries.
11/06/2013 – Ephemeris – Where’s the bright planets and comets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 6th. The sun will rise at 7:27. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 5:24. The moon, 3 days past new, will set at 8:25 this evening.
Let’s check out the bright planets. Venus is brilliant in the west southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:46 p.m. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 9:27 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 5:04 a.m. Mars will rise at 2:01 a.m. also in the east northeast. Reddish Mars is below and left of the slightly brighter star Regulus in Leo now. It’s in the east at 5 a.m. Comet ISON is nearly the distance below Mars that Mars is below Regulus and nearly in line with the two. My guesstimate for magnitude is about 8, about half as bright as current predictions, but probably visible in small telescopes. Comet ISON will rise about 3:30 a.m. and be visible before the sky begins to brighten around 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and the Moon at 7 p.m. November 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Closeup of the Moon at 7 p.m. November 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus at 7 p.m. November 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium. The faint stripes are not seen in visible light.
Jupiter and Mars with the winter and spring constellations at 6 a.m. November 7, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Comets ISON and Encke and Mars at 6 a.m. from November 5 to 12, 2013. Created with Cartes du Ciel.
Closeup charts of comets ISON and Encke at 6 a.m. for November 6 through 12, 2013. Created using Cartes du Ciel.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 