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01/05/2022 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 5th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 5:16, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:19. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 8:53 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus is three days from passing between the Earth and the Sun in what is called an inferior conjunction. It really isn’t visible in the bright evening twilight. It will emerge later this month in the morning sky. Jupiter might be visible in the southwest by 6 pm, above the 3-day-old crescent Moon. Saturn should appear a bit later, halfway between Jupiter and the horizon, but on an angle to the lower right. Mercury might be spotted again halfway to the horizon from Saturn to the lower right of it. This isn’t the best appearance of Mercury in the evening this year, the one in early April will be better. Mercury will set at 6:48 pm, Saturn at 7:30, and Jupiter at 9:11 pm.
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
Three Evening planets and the Moon at 6 pm on the southwest horizon tonight, January 5, 2022. Created using Stellarium.
Three day old Moon with earth shine as it might look like in binoculars tonight, January 5, 2022. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Antares at 7:00 tomorrow morning, January 6, 2022. The name Antares means “Rival of Mars”, Ares being the Greek equivalent to the Roman Ares. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the bright planets and their brighter moons (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 7 pm, January 5, 2022. I do not show planets less than 10 seconds of arc in diameter. Apparent diameters: Saturn 15.41″, its rings 35.89″; Jupiter, 35.05″. Mercury is not shown, its apparent diameter is 6.67″ and is 64.2% illuminated. Mars also is not shown, its apparent diameter is 4.05″. Jupiter is showing 3 of its 4 bright moons. Io is in front of the planet. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on January 5, 2022. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 6th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/04/2022 – Ephemeris – Planet show in the evening twilight tonight
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Tuesday, January 4th. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:15. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 7:34 this evening.
Tonight, if it’s clear, there’s a chance that one could spot four planets, plus the Moon, in the southwestern evening twilight. However, not all at the same time. Venus should make an appearance at about 5:45 very low in the west-southwest, only 3 degrees or 6 moon-widths above a lake horizon. Jupiter might be visible then or in a few more minutes much higher in the southwest. The two-day-old Moon might be visible then, about halfway between Jupiter and Venus. By 6 pm, Mercury might be visible halfway between the Moon and where Venus was, because Venus will be setting at that time. By this time, too, Saturn will appear just above right of the Moon. This is the last chance to spot Venus in the evening sky until the last months of this year.
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
Four Evening planets and the Moon at 5:45 pm on a flat horizon at 5:45 pm tonight, January 4, 2022. Venus, because it is so low on the horizon, and Saturn, the dimmest of the four planets, may not be visible. Created using Stellarium.
Venus is only 4 days away from inferior conjunction. Back in 1969 I took this photo of Venus then only 4 days from inferior conjunction from the Grand Rapids Amateur Astronomical Society’s Veen Observatory outside of Lowell, MI.
Venus was low in the sky, and the atmosphere made it very fuzzy.
12/29/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 29th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:10, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:19. The Moon, halfway from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:37 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus will be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 6:00 tonight. It’s a crescent in telescopes, and even binoculars now. It is moving closer to us, and now appears larger than Jupiter in telescopes. Venus will set at 6:35 pm, 31 minutes earlier than it set a week ago, which means that the Sun is catching up with it faster and faster. It has only 10 days left in the evening sky, Mercury might be spotted just below left of Venus. By 5:45 pm, both Jupiter and Saturn should be able to be spotted in the southwestern sky. Saturn will be dimmer, and to its lower right, halfway between Jupiter and Venus. Saturn will set at 7:35 pm, with Jupiter setting later at 9:31 pm.
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 evening planets in the southwest at 6 pm tonight, December 29, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and the Moon in the southeast at 7 am, tomorrow morning, December 30, 2021. Note that Mars is near its rival in color, the red giant star Antares in Scorpius the scorpion. Sometimes Mars is dimmer than Antares, sometime it’s brighter. It depends on Mars’s distance. Currently, it’s quite far away, at 218 million miles (352 million kilometers). The Moon is shown at twice its actual size to better show its thin crescent phase. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the bright planets and their brighter moons (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 7 pm, December 29, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus, 59.89″, 3.7% illuminated; Saturn 15.49″, its rings 36.09″; Jupiter, 35.57″. Mercury is not shown, its apparent diameter is 5.68″ and is 82.4% illuminated. Mars also is not shown, its apparent diameter is 3.99″. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
In the above chart, I don’t show any planet that’s less than 10 seconds of arc in diameter due to the limitations of scale of what I can show that would be appropriate or small telescopes.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on December 29, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 30th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
11/03/2021 – Ephemeris – Searching for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 3rd. The Sun will rise at 8:23. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 4 minutes, setting at 6:28. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:56 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 6:50 tonight. It’s a fat crescent in telescopes. Venus will set at 8:44 pm. By 7 pm, Jupiter should be able to be spotted in the south-southeastern sky. Saturn will be dimmer, and to its right. They will set after midnight in the southwest, with Saturn setting first at 12:11 am, and Jupiter following at 1:32. Saturn’s rings are a beautiful sight in a telescope of even modest power, but the planet will appear tiny. In the morning sky, Mercury will be harder to spot than it was last week. It will be visible and low in the east-southeast from 7:30 to 8 am. All four of Jupiter’s brightest moons will be visible in binoculars early in the evening tonight.
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
Venus will appear low in the south-southwest by 6:50 pm tonight, November 3, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Jupiter and Saturn at 7 pm in the southern sky. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury in morning twilight at 7:45 am, November 4, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 9 pm, November 3, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus at 7 pm, 26.54″, 46.7% illuminated; Saturn 16.69″, its rings 38.88″; Jupiter, 41.77″. Mercury at 7:30 am on the 4th and not plotted, 5.49″, 86.4% illuminated. The Jovian moon Io will begin transiting the face of the planet at 11:14 pm. Its shadow will start to cross at 12:32 am. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on November 3, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 4th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
10/27/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 6:38, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:15. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:27 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 7 tonight. It will set at 8:43 pm. By 7:15 pm, Jupiter will be spotted in the south-southeastern sky. Jupiter should be easy to spot at that hour. Saturn will be dimmer, and to its right. They will be visible for a while after midnight in the southwest, with Saturn setting first at 12:37 am, and Jupiter following at 1:57. Saturn’s rings are a beautiful sight in a telescope of even modest power, but the planet will appear tiny. In the morning sky, Mercury will be visible and low in the east-southeast for most of the 7 am hour. All four of Jupiter’s brightest moons will be visible in binoculars early in the evening tonight.
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
Venus will appear low in the southwest by 7 pm tonight, October 27, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Saturn in evening twilight at 7:15 pm tonight, October 27, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tomorrow morning, October 28, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury in morning twilight finder for 7:30 am tomorrow, October 28, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 9 pm, October 27, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus at 7 pm, 24.19″, 50.8% illuminated; Saturn 16.92″, its rings 39.41″; Jupiter, 42.87″. Mercury at 7:30 am on the 28th and not plotted, 6.47″, 64.9% illuminated. The Jovian moon Io will begin transiting the face of the planet at 9:20 pm. Its shadow will start to cross at 10:37 pm. Io’s transit will end at 11:37 pm. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on October 27, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 28th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
10/20/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 44 minutes, setting at 6:49, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:06. The Moon, is full today, the Hunter’s Moon, and will rise at 7:07 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 7:10 tonight. It will set at 8:44 pm. By 7:30 pm, Jupiter will be spotted in the south-southeastern sky. Jupiter should be easy to spot at that hour. Saturn will be dimmer, and to its right. They will be visible for a while after midnight in the southwest, with Saturn setting first at 1:04 am, and Jupiter following at 2:24. Saturn’s rings are a beautiful sight in a telescope of even modest power, but the planet will appear tiny. In the morning sky, Mercury will be visible and low in the east-southeast by 7:15 am. It will reach its greatest separation from the Sun in six days.
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
Venus seen in twilight at 7:10 pm, about 20 minutes after sunset tonight, October 20, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Full Hunter’s Moon rising at 7:11 this evening, October 20, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon at 7:30, about 40 minutes after sunset tonight, October 20, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury and the star Arcturus in the morning twilight at 7:15 am, about 50 minutes before sunrise tomorrow morning, October 21, 2021. Don’t confuse the two. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 8 pm, October 20, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus, 22.70″, 53.7% illuminated; Saturn 17.08″, its rings 39.80″; Jupiter, 43.68″. Mercury at 7:15 am on the 21st and not plotted, 7.68″, 38.1% illuminated. The two Jovian moons transiting the face of the planet are usually not visible, though their shadows can be spotted. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on October 20, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/18/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 8:43, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:50. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:02 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the western evening twilight by 9:15 tonight. It will set at 10:04 pm. By 9:30 pm, Jupiter and Saturn will be seen low in the southeastern sky. The brighter Jupiter will be easy to spot at that hour. Saturn will be dimmer, but a bit higher and to its right. Jupiter, just a day from opposition from the Sun, will be at its brightest and closest to us. It’s now 373 million miles (600 million km) from us. It won’t change much by tomorrow. Actually it’s a closer approach than average, so it’s brighter than at an average opposition and larger appearing than normal in telescopes. Jupiter and four of its largest moons always provide for a great show.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hr). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus low in the west, tonight at 9:15, about a half hour after sunset, August 18, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon at 10 pm, about an hour and a quarter after sunset tonight, August 18, 2021. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.
The waxing gibbous Moon as it might appear tonight in binoculars or a small telescope. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening. Venus at 10 pm, and the other two at 11 pm, August 18, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus, 13.93″; Saturn 18.51″, its rings 43.13″; Jupiter, 49.12″. Jupiter’s moon have a cluster of events in the am hours. See below. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Satellite Event EDT (UT-4) UT Europa Shadow start 12:34 am 04:34 Europa Transit start 12:37 am 04:37 Io Occultation start 12:37 am 04:37 Ganymede Eclipse start 12:43 am 04:43 Io Occultation end 2:55 am 06:55 Europa Shadow end 3:25 am 07:25 Europa Transit end 3:27 am 07:27 Ganymede Occultation end 4:24 am 08:24 From 12:43 to 2:55 am, only Callisto of the four Galilean moons will be visible.
The above times were determined using Stellarium, and may be off by several minutes.
Shadow events are when a satellite’s shadow is cast onto the face of the planet
Transit events are when the satellite passes in front of the planet. The satellite is usually not visible
Eclipse events are when a satellite passes through the planet’s shadow
Occultation events are when the satellite passes behind the planet
The naked-eye planets and the Moon are shown at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on August 18, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 19th. Mars and Mercury will be in conjunction in Leo that evening, so their labels overlap. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/07/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 7th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 24 minutes, setting at 9:30, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:05. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 4:36 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. It will set at 11:03 pm. Venus will be spending the rest of summer low in the western sky, and not be as conspicuous as it usually is as the Evening Star. Mars’ visibility is getting to be a real problem. It can be found to the left and a bit above Venus at 10:30 pm, and will set at 11:06 pm. Saturn and Jupiter, are seen best in the morning sky. Saturn will rise before midnight at 10:47 pm. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 11:34 pm. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the southern sky in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT-4 hr). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the evening twilight at 10:30 pm tonight, July 7, 2021. I’m not promising that Mars will be visible, since it’s now down to second magnitude. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn finder animation for 11:30 pm tonight, July 7, 2021. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Jupiter and Saturn at 5 am tomorrow morning, July 8, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury and the Moon at 5:15 am tomorrow morning, July 8, 2021. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification for the night of July 7/8, 2021. Times of the display are: Venus, 10:30 pm; Saturn and Jupiter, 5 am. Apparent diameters: Venus, 11.46″; Saturn 18.41″, its rings 42.88″; Jupiter, 46.18″. Mars has an apparent diameter of only 3.80″, and Mercury of 7.32 and are not represented. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night, starting with sunset on the right on July 7, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 8th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
05/26/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
There is a lunar eclipse this morning. See https://bobmoler.wordpress.com/2021/05/25/05-25-2021-ephemeris-viewing-the-lunar-eclipse-tomorrow-morning/
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 26th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 9:16, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:03. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 9:57 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus might be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm. Mercury will be a bit above and left of Venus, but is now too dim to spot. Venus will set at 10:36 pm. Mars can be found in the west at 10:30 tonight, in the constellation of Gemini the twins. Tonight it’s on the left side of the constellation, below Gemini’s brightest star, Pollux. Mars will set at 12:37 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 1:36 am. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, now within the boundaries of Aquarius, will rise at 2:21 am. By 5 am they will be in the southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
05/19/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 9:09, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:09. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 3:26 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Mars will be joined by two more planets seen in twilight. Both Mercury and Venus are now just above where the Sun set. By 10 pm Mercury should be able to be spotted low in the west-northwest. Venus might be spotted lower and somewhat earlier, it’s a lot brighter than Mercury. Venus will be setting at 10:21 pm with Mercury following at 11:04. Mars can be found in the west at 10:30 tonight, in the constellation of Gemini the twins. Tonight it’s in the middle of the constellation. Mars will set at 12:42 am. Jupiter and Saturn, are in the morning sky. Saturn will rise at 2:03 am, with brighter Jupiter rising at 2:43 am. By 5 am they will be in the southeast in the morning twilight.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 