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02/23/2022 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 23rd. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 6:22, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:28. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 2:43 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. The last evening planet, Jupiter, is too close to the setting Sun to be spotted now after sunset. The action now shifts to the morning sky, where Venus and Mars reside. Saturn entered the morning sky sixteen days ago, and it will be about another month or so before it’s far enough from the direction of the Sun to be spotted. Venus, our brilliant morning star, Mars and maybe even Mercury can be spotted low in the southeast by 6:45 am, about half an hour before sunrise. Mars will be below, and right of Venus, while Mercury will be near the horizon left of Venus. Mercury is brighter than Mars, but lower in the more intense twilight. Venus will rise at 5:06, with Mars following at 5:38, and Mercury rising last at 6:32.
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
Morning planets and the waning crescent Moon at 6:45 am, or about 40 minutes before sunrise tomorrow morning, February 24, 2022. Mercury may not actually be visible. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.
Waning Crescent Moon as it might be shown in binoculars or small telescope tomorrow morning, February 24, 2022. Created using Stellarium.
Venus through a telescope as it would appear before sunrise tomorrow morning, February 24, 2022. It’s shown larger than usual, since it’s the only planet that looks like anything in a small telescope now. Its apparent diameter is 33.72″, and it is 34.9% illuminated by the Sun.
(” means seconds of arc. 1″ is 1/3600th of a degree) Mars has an apparent diameter of 4.63″, while Mercury has one of 6.18″. Created using Stellarium, which is also the source for the apparent diameters and the illuminated fraction of Venus.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on February 23, 2022. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 24th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/16/2022 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 16th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 6:12, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:39. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 6:11 this evening.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. There is just one planet left in the evening sky now, and it’s going to leave us soon. Jupiter will be barely visible very low in the west-southwest around 6:45 pm, or a half hour after sunset. It will set at 7:16 pm. Saturn has entered the morning sky, where we’ve lost it for a month or so. Speaking of the morning sky, Venus, our brilliant morning star, Mars and maybe even Mercury can be spotted low in the southeast by 6:55 am, about 45 minutes before sunrise. Mars will be below, and right of Venus, while Mercury will be near the horizon left of Venus. Mercury is brighter than Mars, but lower in more intense twilight. Venus will rise at 5:12, with Mars following at 5:45, and Mercury rising last at 6:30.
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, tonight, is barely visible in the west-southwest at 6:45 pm, about 34 minutes after sunset, February 16, 2022. Created using Stellarium.
The full Moon as it might appear as it rises tonight, as viewed in binoculars. Notice the squashed appearance of the Moon, which is due to the fact that atmospheric refraction is affecting the bottom part of the Moon more than the top. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Mars and Mercury, visible at 6:45 am, or about 55 minutes before sunrise, tomorrow February 17, 2022. Mercury is at its greatest elongation or separation from the Sun. Created using Stellarium.
Only one planet is worth attention through a telescope. That one is Venus as a bright crescent. Venus is magnified much more than I normally do, so the caption will fit under it. Created using Stellarium.
The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on February 16, 2022. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 17th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/09/2022 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 9th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 6:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:50. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 3:37 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. There is just one planet left in the evening sky now, and it’s going to leave us soon. Jupiter will be visible in the west-southwest around 6:30 pm. It will set at 7:35 pm. Saturn is too close to the Sun to be seen, It crossed behind the Sun last Friday, and has entered the morning sky, where we will lose it for a month or so. Speaking of the morning sky, Venus, our brilliant morning star, Mars and maybe even Mercury can be spotted low in the southeast by 7 o’clock. Mars will be below, right of Venus, while Mercury will be near the horizon left of Venus. Mercury is brighter than Mars, but lower in more intense twilight. Venus will rise at 5:23, with Mars following at 5:53, and Mercury rising last at 6:32.
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 in evening twilight tonight at 6:30 pm or about a half hour after sunset, February 9, 2022. Created using Stellarium.
The waxing gibbous Moon as it might appear tonight in binoculars or small telescope. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, Mars, and Mercury at 7 am, or about 50 minutes before sunrise in the morning twilight. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic views of the Jupiter and its moons; and Venus (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, overnight, February 9/10, 2022. As far as Jupiter is concerned, I’m not sure its moons will be visible in the twilight or close to the horizon. I do not show planets less than 10 seconds of arc in diameter. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 33.34″ at 6:45 pm. Mars is not shown, its apparent diameter is 4.44″. Venus has an apparent diameter of 42.07″ and is 23.8% illuminated at 7 am. Mercury, is also not shown, it has an apparent diameter of 7.73″ and it’s 47.3% illuminated. 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 February 9, 2022. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 10th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/12/2022 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 12th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 5:24, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:17. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:45 tomorrow morning.
Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. There are three planets left in the evening sky now. Jupiter will be visible in the southwest by 6:15 pm. Saturn should appear below and right of it, much closer to the Horizon, with the slightly brighter Mercury a bit below and right of it. Mercury is a bit brighter than Saturn, but in brighter twilight. Finding Saturn and Mercury might take a pair of binoculars. Mercury will set at 6:55 pm, Saturn at 7:07, and Jupiter at 8:52 pm. In the morning sky, Mars is now visible by 7:15 am low in the southeast. Mars’ rival in color and brightness, the red giant star Antares, is to its right and a bit higher. Another bright star is low in the east at that time, the summer time evening star Altair.
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 three planets in evening twilight at 6:15 pm tonight, January 12, 2022. Created using Stellarium.
The waxing gibbous Moon, seen at 9 pm tonight, January 12, 2022. The easily spotted craters of Plato, Copernicus and Tycho are labeled. 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 12, 2022. I do not show planets less than 10 seconds of arc in diameter. Apparent diameters: Saturn 15.34″, its rings 35.74″; Jupiter, 34.59″. Mercury is not shown, its apparent diameter is 4.12″ and is 34.1% illuminated. Mars also is not shown, its apparent diameter is 4.12″. Jupiter is showing two of its moons transiting its face. They will actually be invisible. Ganymede’s start of transit will be at 6:50 pm and should be visible before then. 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 12, 2022. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 13th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.
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.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 