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Posts Tagged ‘Mercury’

Ephemeris: 05/08/2024 – Saturn comes tottering into the morning twilight

May 8, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 8th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 8:56, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:21. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 10:12 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Jupiter now is too close to the direction of the Sun to be seen. It will move to be in conjunction with the Sun on the 18th of this month and by late June may be visible in the morning sky in twilight. By 5:30 tomorrow morning, about 40 minutes before sunrise, Saturn will be low in the east-southeast and Mars will be lower yet in the east. In telescopes, Saturn will look fairly different this year and next with its rings nearly edge on to us. They will open up a bit through October before closing again. We won’t see the rings go exactly edge on because Saturn will be too close to the Sun in the sky on March 23rd next year. After that the rings will open up again.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

You may wonder why I use the word tottering in title. The planet Saturn is named after the Roman god of old age, probably because it takes nearly 30 years to orbit the Sun. Even though it’s moving away from twilight faster than Mars is, it’s just the fact that the Sun and Mars are moving faster to the east than it is, leaving him in the dust, so to speak.

Looking to the east-southeast at 5:30 in the morning, less than an hour before sunrise, Saturn and Mars will be visible very low in the sky
Looking to the east-southeast at 5:30 in the morning, less than an hour before sunrise, Saturn and Mars will be visible very low in the sky. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.
A telescopic view of Saturn
A telescopic view of Saturn. It’s a bit larger than I normally show it when we look at several planets, to show you the rings which are tilted a little less than 3° to our line of sight. Saturn appears 16.4″ diameter, while it’s rings are 38.2″ in extent. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, May 8th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 9th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 04/24/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

April 24, 2024 Comments off

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 8:39, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:41. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 9:49 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Jupiter, looking not-so bright in twilight is very low and in the west. It will set at 10:23 pm. I’m giving Jupiter another week of evening visibility. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks now only visible to observers south of the equator. In the morning, Mars and Saturn will be close together in the east southeastern sky at 6 am. They will be fighting the bright morning twilight and low altitude then. Saturn will be difficult to see right now in the twilight. Mars will be harder to spot. Saturn will look fairly different this year and next with its rings nearly edge on to us. They will look more like a line through the planet.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter appears very low in the West northwest at 9:30 PM which is about 50 minutes after sunset. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon a day after full at 10:30 PM tonight, April 24th 2024. At this time it’s still low in the sky showing its coloring. Selected features are labeled. Created with Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw and GIMP.
Saturn and Mars is they might appear tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM, April 25th 2024. They might be difficult or impossible to pick out low in the east southeast because they are much dimmer than Jupiter. In fact Saturn is dimmer than it normally is because its rings are nearly edge on and will be edge on to us in 11 months, before opening up again. The rings, when they’re open, contribute a great deal to Saturn’s brightness. Created using Stellarium , LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
This is Saturn as it might appear in a telescope at 6:00 AM tomorrow, April 25th 2024. It is larger than I usually present it, to show off it’s rings or nearly lack thereof. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 24th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 25th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 04/17/2024 – Where have all the planets gone?

April 17, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 8:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:52. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 5:04 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Bright Jupiter is very low and in the west. It will set at 10:23 pm. We are getting close to losing Jupiter in the evening sky. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is just below-left of it. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere might now get a chance to spot it, but I believe it’s too far gone for us. In the morning, Mars and Saturn will be very close together in the east southeastern sky at 6:30. They will be fighting the bright morning twilight and low altitude then. Saturn will be difficult to see right now in the twilight . It will look fairly different this year and next with its rings nearly edge on to us. They will look more like a line through the planet.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The five naked eye planets and Comet Pons-Brooks are located near the Sun
The five naked eye planets and Comet Pons-Brooks are located near the Sun . This image you see the Sun if the Earth had no atmosphere, at solar noon which is about 1:41 PM. Saturn is the farthest planet from the Sun at about 42°. Anything to the right of the Sun is a morning planet, anything to the left is an evening planet. And since Jupiter is above the Sun it can be seen more easily in the evening than can Saturn in he morning, which is below the Sun. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus found in a photograph of the total solar eclipse
Jupiter and Venus found in a photograph of the total solar eclipse of April 8th 2024 with a smartphone camera by one in our party. Credit Jeff Busch.
The planet Jupiter shown here much brighter than it will actually appear tonight
The planet Jupiter shown here much brighter than it will actually appear tonight at 9:30 PM, or about an hour after sunset. It’s altitude will be about 9° above the horizon. Observers south of us will see Jupiter a little bit higher in the sky at the same time period after sunset. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon is a might be seen in binoculars
The Moon is a might be seen in binoculars or a small telescope this evening, April 17th 2024. Select features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Saturn and Mars as they might be glimpsed early in the morning
Saturn and Mars as they might be glimpsed early in the morning at 6:00 AM, about an hour before sunrise. Saturn is brighter than Mars, however Saturn is dimmer than it normally is mainly because it’s rings are closing and nearly edge on. When the rings are at their most open they contribute more to the brightness of Saturn than the planet does. Created using Stellarium.

None of the planets are good telescopic objects now, due to their low position in the sky, and twilight.

The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 17th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 18th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 04/03/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

April 3, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 3rd. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 8:13, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:17. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 5:33 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be spotted. Bright Jupiter is due west at 8:45 pm or a half hour after sunset. It will set at 11:05 pm. We are getting close to losing Jupiter in the evening sky. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is right of and a bit below Jupiter in the evening. Though officially naked-eye brightness, one has to have very good eyes, binoculars or telescope to spot it. In my Wednesday blog posts at bobmoler.wordpress.com I have finder charts. In the morning Mars, and especially Venus and Saturn may be impossible to spot, in the east-southeast in the bright twilight. Mars will rise at 6:10, and will be very low in the east-southeast at 6:45 am.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter and Mercury as might be seen at 9:00 PM, or nearly three quarters of an hour after sunset, tonight April 3rd 2024 . Also Comet Pons-Brooks is in the same general area of the sky. It is 5th magnitude, and probably not visible without binoculars or a small telescope. Mercury is definiotely not visible wothout a telescope. Created using Stellarium.
A finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week
Here is a finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week at 9:30 PM. Jupiter is also in the field. The first position is marked with the name, month and day, and the approximate magnitude. The chart shows a comet tail. The tail will probably not be visible visually, however if it is visible, that is the direction it will be pointing. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

During the solar eclipse on the 8th, during totality, the comet will be located around the 2nd to the last position of its track. However, unless it is obviously noticeable, totality time is too short to use trying to find it. Enjoy the glory of the sun’s corona for the brief time you have.

The Moon, Mars, and Saturn as they might appear about 6:45 in the morning about 1/2 an hour before sunrise low in the east-southeast to southeast. Mars and Saturn are shown brighter than they might appear, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t see them. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as seen in a pair binoculars or telescope around 6:45 tomorrow morning April 4th 2024
The moon as seen in a pair binoculars or telescope around 6:45 tomorrow morning April 4th 2024. Selected features are labeled. Montes Jura or the Jura Mountains on the terminator surround 3 sides of the Bay of Rainbows (Sinus Iridium). The crater J. Herschel is named after John Herschel, son of William Herschel, a more famous astronomer, who has a small crater near the center of the disk of the moon just north of crater named for Ptolemy and near another crater named for the Greek astronomer Hipparchus. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope
Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope at 9:30 this evening in this erect image, showing the position of its Galilean moons. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 33.93″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 3rd 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 4th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 03/27/2024 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week

March 27, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 8:04, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:30. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 10:50 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Mercury is visible in the evening sky shortly after sunset appearing very low in the west. It will be visible for the next few days or so, slowly heading back toward the Sun since this past Sunday. Higher up in the sky is bright Jupiter in the west southwest. It will set at 11:25 pm. Jupiter will be visible in the evening for only about another month or so. In the morning Mars, and especially Venus and Saturn may be impossible to spot, in the east-southeast in the bright twilight. Mars will rise at 6:28, and will be very low in the east-southeast. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is below-right of Jupiter in the evening. I’ll have more about it tomorrow.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

upiter and Mercury
Jupiter and Mercury as might be seen at 9:00 PM, or nearly an hour after sunset, tonight March 27th 2024 . Also Comet Pons-Brooks is in the same general area of the sky. It is 5th magnitude almost 6th, and probably not visible without binoculars or a small telescope . Created using Stellarium.
Finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks
Here is a finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week at 9:30 PM. Jupiter is also in the field. The first position is marked with the name, month and day, and the approximate magnitude. The chart shows a comet tail. The tail will probably not be visible visually, however if it is visible, that is the direction it will be pointing. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Carts du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The waning gibbous Moon tonight
The waning gibbous Moon tonight at midnight, March 27th 2024, with and without annotations of selected features . Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Mars as seen about 6:50 in the morning
Mars as seen about 6:50 in the morning or about 40 minutes before sunrise, looking east-southeast. It may not look as bright as this. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope
Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope at 9:30 this evening in this erect image, showing the position of its Galilean moons. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 34.3″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts). Labels via Libre Office Draw.
The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, March 27th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 28th. The symbols and labels for Saturn and Venus in the morning overlay each other. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Comet, Ephemeris Program, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 03/20/2024 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week

March 20, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 7:56, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:43. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 6:38 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Mercury is visible in the evening sky shortly after sunset appearing very low in the west. It will be visible for the next week or so, moving away from the Sun, but getting dimmer, and starting back toward the Sun after Sunday. Higher up in the sky is bright Jupiter in the west southwest. It will set at 11:45 pm. Jupiter will be visible in the evening for only about another month or so. In the morning Mars, Venus and Saturn may be impossible to spot, in the east-southeast in the bright twilight. Mars will rise at 6:43 am, followed by Venus at 7:13, with Saturn right below it.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter and Mercury as they might appear in the West at around 45 minutes after sunset.
Jupiter and Mercury as they might appear in the West at around 45 minutes after sunset or about 8:40 PM. Created using Stellarium.
The gibbous Moon as it might be visible this evening in binoculars or a small telescope
The gibbous Moon as it might be visible this evening in binoculars or a small telescope around 9 PM tonight, March 20th, 2024. Selected features are annotated. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Jupiter and its moons tonight
We are down to one naked eye planet worth looking at in a telescope, and that is Jupiter. This is Jupiter and its moons as they would appear at 9 pm tonight, March 20th 2024. Jupiter and its moons are tilted at an angle as they would appear in the sky due to the angle of the ecliptic to the western horizon. In previous views, where I’ve looked at more than multiple planets at a time, I’ve shown them in relationship to the ecliptic or plane of the Earth’s orbit. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 34.86 seconds of arc. Created using Stellarium, and LibreOffice Draw for labels.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, March 20th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 21st. The symbols and labels for Saturn and Venus in the morning overlay each other. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 03/13/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

March 13, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 7:47, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:55. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 12:28 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Mercury is beginning to become visible in the evening sky shortly after sunset appearing very low in the west. It will be visible for the next week or so, moving away from the Sun, but getting dimmer. Higher up in the sky Jupiter and the moon are close together this evening With Jupiter to the left and below the crescent Moon in the west southwest. It will set at 12:08 am. Jupiter will be visible in the evening for only about another month or so. In the morning Mars and Venus may be impossible to spot, in the east-southeast in the bright twilight. Mars will rise at 6:57 am, followed by Venus at 7:21.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT–4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Looking westward at 8:30 pm or about 45 minutes after sunset tonight, March 13, 2024, Mercury is low in the west. Jupiter and the Moon are much higher in the west-southwest. The Moon has been enlarged to better show its phase. Created using Stellarium.
The moon tonight as it may appear tonight, March 13th 2024, in binoculars or a small telescope with selected features labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
We are down to one naked eye planet worth looking at in a telescope, and that is Jupiter. This is Jupiter and its moons as they would appear at 8:30 pm tonight, March 13th 2024. Jupiter and its moons are tilted at an angle as they would appear in the sky due to the angle of the ecliptic to the western horizon. In previous views, where I’ve looked at more than multiple planets at a time, I’ve shown them in relationship to the ecliptic or plane of the Earth’s orbit. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 35.31 seconds of arc. Created using Stellarium, and LibreOffice Draw for labels.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on March 13, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , ,

Ephemeris: 02/28/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

February 28, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 28th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 5 minutes, setting at 6:28, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:21. The Moon, halfway from full to last quarter, will rise at 10:52 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left to see. Saturn, and Mercury are gone, both actually in conjunction with the Sun today. Jupiter will be in the west-southwest at 8 this evening. It will set at 11:47 pm in the west. Jupiter will be visible in the evening for only about two more months. Venus, the morning star, will rise in the east-southeast at 6:27 am, but its brilliance is diminished by the bright twilight and its low position in the sky. It will be very low in the east-southeast at 7 am. Mars might be impossible to spot, being a bit to the right and above Venus. A pair of binoculars, at least, will be needed to spot it in the morning twilight.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT –5 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter and the bright stars of winter as they might appear about 8 pm
Jupiter and the bright stars of winter as they might appear about 8 pm tonight, February 28th 2024. Created using Stellarium.
Annotated waning gibbous Moon
The moon is it might appear tonight at midnight a little over an hour after it rises. Selected features are labeled. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium , LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Venus and Mars as they might appear in a pair of binoculars
Venus and Mars as they might appear in a pair of binoculars low in the southeast at 7 am or a bit before, tomorrow morning, February 29th 2024. The planets are about 3° apart, which works out to be six widths of the moon or maybe half the width of the binocular field of view. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic Jupiter and Venus
Telescopic Jupiter and Venus (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification. At 8 pm EST February 28, 2024, for Jupiter, and 7 am on the 29th for Venus. Apparent diameters: Jupiter 36.53″; and Venus 11.11″, 91.2% illuminated.
Jupiter’s moon Io will pass behind (be occulted by) the planet at 8:17 pm EST. It will reappear at 11:39 pm away from the planet because until then it’ll still be in Jupiter’s shadow.
The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree). Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts) and GIMP.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on February 28, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on February 29th. Saturn is not shown because, at solar conjunction it happens to be below the horizon in both views. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 02/21/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

February 21, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 21st. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 6:19, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:32. The Moon, 3 days before full, will set at 7:09 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Saturn, and Mercury are gone, being too close to the Sun to be visible. Jupiter will be in the west-southwest at 8 this evening. It will set at 12:11 am in the west. Jupiter will be visible in the evening for only about two more months. Venus, the morning star, will rise in the east-southeast at 6:33 am, but its brilliance is diminished by the bright twilight and its low position in the sky. It will be very low in the southeast at 7 am. This might be our first chance to spot Mars in the morning sky because tomorrow morning it will be just below Venus by about 1 1/2 moon diameters. A pair of binoculars may be needed to spot it.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT –5 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, the Moon and the bright stars of winter as they might appear about 8:00 pm tonight
Jupiter, the Moon and the bright stars of winter as they might appear about 8:00 pm tonight, February 21st 2024. Created using Stellarium.
The moon is it might appear at 8:00 pm tonight
The moon is it might appear at 8:00 pm tonight February 21st 2024. Selected features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Venus and Mars as they might appear in a pair of binoculars low in the southeast at about 7 a
Venus and Mars as they might appear in a pair of binoculars low in the southeast at about 7 am, or about a half hour before sunrise, tomorrow morning, February 22nd 2024. The planets are about the width of the Moon apart and Mars will be very difficult to spot. In fact both will be very low in the sky and any amount of obscured horizon may prevent them from being visible. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic Jupiter and Venus
(north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification. At 8 pm EST February 21, 2024, for Jupiter, and 7 am on the 22nd, for Venus. Apparent diameters: Jupiter 37.23″; and Venus 11.35″, 99.0% illuminated.
Jupiter’s missing moon is Io, which is behind the planet. It will reappear at 9:43 pm away from the planet because until then it’ll still be in Jupiter’s shadow. At 10:02 pm Europa will begin to transit across the face of the planet.
The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree). Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts) and GIMP.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on February 21, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on February 22nd. The label for Mars overlays the image of Venus. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , ,

Ephemeris: 02/14/2024 – A Valentine’s Day look at the bright planets

February 14, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 14th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 24 minutes, setting at 6:09, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:43. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 12:31 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked -eyed planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Saturn, for all practical purposes, is gone, setting an hour after the sun. Jupiter will be in the southwest at 7:30 this evening, above and left to the crescent moon. It will move to the low west -northwest by midnight and will set at 12:30 am. Venus, the morning star, will rise into the east-southeast at 6:30 am, but its brilliance is diminished by the bright twilight and its low position in the sky. It will be very low in the southeast at seven am. Being Ash Wednesday, Easter is 46 days away. But Lent has 40 days. The six Sundays in Lent don’t count.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT –5 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The planet Jupiter and the Moon at 8 pm tonight, February 14th 2024. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon tonight about 8 pm this evening, February 14, 2024, as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope
The Moon tonight about 8 pm this evening, February 14, 2024, as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope, with selected features labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
Venus will be seen low in the southeast at 7 am tomorrow, February 15th 2024. Mars is low and left of it, but is too faint and is overpowered by the bright twilight at that hour. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic Jupiter and Venus (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification. At 8 pm EST February 14, 2024, for Jupiter, and 7 am on the 15th, for Venus. Apparent diameters: Jupiter 37.99″; and Venus 11.62″, 88.7% illuminated. Europa will be transiting the face of Jupiter at 8 pm. It starts across at 7:20 pm. Satellites are hard to observe when transiting. Europa will end its transit at 9:43 pm. A short time later, at 9:54 its shadow will start to cross the face of Jupiter. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree). Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts) and GIMP.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on February 14, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on February 15th. The label for Mars overlays the image of Venus. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: , , , , ,