Archive
06/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 6th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 26 minutes, setting at 9:24. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:31 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is now in the morning sky and very close to the sun, will be seen again in a few weeks. Mars is in the southwest in the evening in the constellation of Leo the lion with its unmistakable bright reddish color, though its fading as it retreats from us. It’s heading eastward toward Virgo. Mars will be setting in the west at 2:20 a.m. Saturn will be in the south above the bright star Spica now. It’s due south at 10:09 p.m. and will set at 3:45 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 5:01 a.m. in the east northeast. Mercury is in the evening sky but too close to the sun to be seen, we should be able to spot it the last week of this month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The planets at 10:15 in the evening. Check out Mercury near the horizon. Created using Stellarium.
5:15 a.m. at 6/7/2012. Morning sky and Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
05/31/2012 – Ephemeris – Previewing June skies
Ephemeris for Thursday, May 31st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 9:20. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:41 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:00.
Let’s preview June skies. There’ll be a lot of sun in June. The daylight hours will increase a bit from 15 hours and 20 minutes on the 1st to 15 hours and 33 minutes on the 20tht, retreating back to 15 hours 30 minutes at month’s end. The big event of the month will be the Transit of Venus across the sun on June 5th. We’ll see the first part of the transit starting about 6:04 p.m. That evening. I’ll have more information on how to safely view this event. Remember looking directly at the sun is dangerous. There will be safe viewing of the event at Traverse City’s Open Space. The next Venus transit will be in 105 ½ years. The extra day in February this leap year pushed the start of summer up to the 20th at 7:07 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
05/30/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets tonight?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 30th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 17 minutes, setting at 9:19. The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:07 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:00.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is now very difficult to spot low in the west northwest just after sunset. The next time you’ll see it will be passing in front of the sun June 5th, a rare event called a transit. Venus will set at 10:11 p.m. Venus is 27.3 million miles away and won’t get much closer. It is an incredibly thin crescent in telescopes. Mars is in the southwest in the evening in the constellation of Leo the lion with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It has resumed its eastward motion toward Virgo. Mars will be setting in the west at 2:42 a.m. Saturn will be in the south above the bright star Spica this now. It’s due south at 10:37 p.m. and will set at 4:13 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
05/23/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 23rd. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 9:12. The moon, 3 days past new, will set at 11:33 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:05.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is in the west as it gets dark. Enjoy it now, because it will be gone in less than 2 weeks. Venus will set at 11:07 p.m. in the west northwest. That’s 33 minutes earlier than last week, so it appears to be drawing closer to the sun. Venus is 29.5 million miles away and closing slowly. It is a beautiful brilliant growing crescent in telescopes. Mars is high in the south southwest in the evening in the constellation of Leo with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s beginning to resume its eastward motion toward Virgo. Mars will be setting in the west at 3:05 a.m. Saturn will be in the southeast moving above above the bright star Spica.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The evening sky with the remaining bright planets at 10 p.m. tonight. Created using Stellarium.
05/16/2012 – Ephemeris – Where the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 16th. Today the sun will be up for 14 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 9:05. The moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:16 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:11.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is in the west as it gets dark. Enjoy it now, because it will be gone in less than 3 weeks. Venus will set at 11:40 p.m. in the west northwest. That’s 29 minutes earlier than last week, so it’s drawing closer to the sun. Venus is 32.1 million miles away and closing. It is a beautiful brilliant growing crescent in telescopes. Mars is high in the south southwest in the evening in the constellation of Leo with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s up to 99 million miles from us and moving away. Mars will be setting in the west at 3:28 a.m. Saturn will be in the southeast just to the left of the bright star Spica this evening.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Planets move westward at 10:30 p.m. May 16, 2012. Created using Stellarium
05/09/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 9th. The sun rises at 6:21. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 8:57. The moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 12:57 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is high in the west as it gets dark. Enjoy it now, because it will be gone in 4 weeks. Venus will set at 12:09 a.m. in the west northwest. That’s 19 minutes earlier than last week, so it’s noticeable drawing closer to the sun. Venus is 35.9 million miles away and closing. It is a beautiful brilliant crescent in telescopes. Mars is high in the south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 94 million miles from us and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 9:08 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 3:52 a.m. Saturn will be in the southeast just to the left of the bright star Spica. It will pass due south at 12:04 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Southern sky at 10 p.m. on May 9, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
04/25/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 25th. The sun rises at 6:41. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 8:40. The moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 12:52 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Jupiter is very low in the twilight in the west and may be visible by 9:15 p.m. It will set at 9:44 p.m. Venus is high in the west as it gets dark. Enjoy it now, because it will be gone in 6 weeks. Venus will set at 12:37 a.m. in the west northwest. Venus is 44.8 million miles away and closing. Mars is high in the south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 84 million miles from us and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 9:53 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 4:44 a.m. Saturn will be rising in the east southeast as twilight fades tonight just to the left of the bright star Spica. It will pass due south at 1:03 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking west at Jupiter, Venus and the moon at 9 p.m. on April 25, 2012. Created with Stellarium.
Planets and stars at 10 p.m. on April 25, 2012. Created with Stellarium.
04/18/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets tonight?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 18th. The sun rises at 6:52. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 8:31. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:47 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Jupiter has dropped far below brilliant Venus in the west, since their apparent paths crossed a month and a half ago. Jupiter will set at 10:03 p.m. followed by Venus at 12:39 a.m. Venus is 49.6 million miles away and closing. Mars is high in the south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 79.4 million miles from us and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 10:18 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 5:15 a.m. Saturn will be rising in the east southeast as twilight fades tonight just to the left of the bright star Spica. It will pass due south at 1:32 a.m. All the bright planets except Mercury are now visible in the evening.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The sky and the evening planets at 9:30 p.m. on April 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
04/11/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 11th. The sun will rise at 7:04. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 8:23. The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 2:19 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus and Jupiter have separated quite far apart in the western sky after sunset. Jupiter is below Venus, the brighter planet. Jupiter will set at 10:22 p.m. followed by Venus at 12:37 a.m. Venus is 55.2 million miles away and closing. Mars is high in the southeast to south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 75 million miles and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 10:46 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 5:40 a.m. Saturn will rise at 8:30 p.m. just to the left of the bright star Spica in the east southeast. It will pass due south at 2:02 a.m. All the bright planets except Mercury are now visible in the evening.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Sky and planets at 9:20 p.m. April 11, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
04/04/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 4th. The sun will rise at 7:17. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 8:14. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:13 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus and Jupiter are separating in the western sky after sunset. Jupiter is way below Venus, the brighter planet. Jupiter will set at 10:41 p.m. followed by Venus at 12:28 a.m. It is 59.6 million miles away and closing. Mars is in the southeast to south in the evening with its unmistakable bright reddish color. It’s in the constellation Leo the lion now. It is 71.1 million miles and moving away. Mars will pass due south at 11:16 p.m. and will be setting in the west at 6:10 a.m. Saturn will rise at 9:01 p.m. just to the left of the bright star Spica in the east southeast. It will pass due south at 2:31 a.m. All the bright planets except Mercury are now visible in the evening.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Animation of the planets and moon at sunrise for April 2012
Click on the images to enlarge.
Animation of the planets and moon at sunset for April 2012
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 