Archive
11/28/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 28th. The sun will rise at 7:56. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 5:04. The moon, at full today, will rise at 5:18 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. First there will be a penumbral eclipse of the moon this morning which we will not be able see. Penumbral eclipses are not very noticeable. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars will set at 7:07. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 5:16 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. Tonight it will appear right above the moon. It will transit or pass due south at 12:49 a.m. Jupiter will reach opposition from the sun this Saturday December 1st, and will officially be part of the evening sky. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 5:15 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 5:23 and is almost directly below Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:13 and will be seen below and left of Venus.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
11/21/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 21st. The sun will rise at 7:47. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 5:09. The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:55 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars, being the nearest planet outside the earth’s orbit takes its own sweet time leaving the evening sky. Mars will set at 7:10. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 5:47 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 1:25 a.m. The morning planet Venus is the next planet to rise at 5:08 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now near the bright star Spica in the constellation of Virgo. Saturn can now be seen after it rises in the east southeast at 5:35 a.m. as twilight brightens. It’s approaching Venus from the lower left.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum

Jupiter with the rising winter constellation is the east at 9 p.m. November 21, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Venus and Saturn low in the east southeast at 6:30 a.m. November 22, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
11/14/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are he bright planets this week.
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 14th. The sun will rise at 7:38. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 5:15. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 6:01 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars, being the nearest planet outside the earth’s orbit takes its own sweet time leaving the evening sky. Mars will set at 7:14. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 6:18 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 1:52 a.m. The morning planet Venus is the next planet to rise at 4:50 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now near the bright star Spica in the constellation of Virgo. Saturn can now be seen after it rises in the east south east at 5:58 a.m. as twilight brightens. It will be easier to spot next week.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
11/07/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 7th. The sun will rise at 7:28. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:22. The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:11 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars, being the nearest planet outside the earth’s orbit takes its own sweet time leaving the evening sky. Mars will set at 7:19. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 6:48 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 2:23 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:33 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo, and actually in the constellation of Virgo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
In the morning.
10/30/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Tuesday, October 30th. The sun will rise at 8:18. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 6:33. The moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 6:58 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week, a day early. At 7:30 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest moving away from the red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars. Mars will set at 8:26. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 8:18 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 3:54 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 5:16 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo, and entering the constellation of Virgo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. It’s starting to feel like winter in the early morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, though labeled, is not visible. Folks much farther south of us have a better shot at seeing it.

Jupiter, the moon and the stars of Taurus and Auriga at 9:30 p.m. October 30, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
10/24/2012 – Ephemeris – Whare are all the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 24th. The sun will rise at 8:10. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 6:42. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:58 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. At 7:30 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest moving away from the red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars. Mars will set at 8:35. The planetary action will resume a few minutes later. Jupiter, will rise at 8:48 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 4:24 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 5 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo, and entering the constellation of Virgo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy for a few more weeks without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum

Mars, Antares, and the Teapot of Sagittarius low in the southwest at 7:30 p.m. on October 24, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
10/17/2012 – Ephemeris – Autumn wonders for binoculars or small telescope: The Alpha Persei Association
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 17th. The sun will rise at 8:00. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 6:53. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 8:21 this evening.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. At 8 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest approaching another red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars. They will be closest in a few days. The moon will be nearby too. Mars will set at 8:45. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 9:17 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 4:52 a.m. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:44 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now below the hind end of Leo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy for a few more weeks without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The moon at this scale is over exposed.
The morning sky.

The morning skies including Jupiter and Venus at 6 a.m. on October 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
10/10/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Oct 10. This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 10th. The sun will rise at 7:52. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 7:05. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:22 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn will set at 7:45 p.m., while Mars will set at 8:56. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 9:45 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:28 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now in Leo outshining the star Regulus next to it. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy for a few more weeks without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Note that the moon is really a thin crescent and is over blown at this scale.
10/03/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Wednesday, October 3rd. The sun will rise at 7:43. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 35 minutes, setting at 7:18. The moon, 4 days past full, will rise at 8:59 this evening.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 8:10 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:08. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 10:09 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 4:13 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now in Leo outshining the star Regulus next to it. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy them without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars is moving towards Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. They have the same color. Mars, though will be dimmed and will pass north of the red giant star.
Click on the image to enlarge.
09/26/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 26th. The sun will rise at 7:34. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 7:31. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:00 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 8:36 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:21. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 10:40 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 3:56 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now moving between Cancer and Leo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy them without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Note that Mercury has already set.

The winter stars in the morning with Jupiter and Venus on September 27, 2012 at 6 a.m. Created using Stellarium.





















