Archive
01/11/2017 – Ephemeris – Three bright planets in the morning, two in the evening
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 11th. The Sun will rise at 8:17. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 5:23. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 8:06 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the bright planets for this week. Saturn can be glimpsed now in the morning, rising at 6:13 in the east-southeast. Mercury is following Saturn and very hard to spot, rising at 6:40 this morning. Jupiter can be glimpsed even as the sky brightens at 7 a.m. this morning when it’s in the south above the star Spica in Virgo. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 1:05 a.m. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6:30 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwestern sky. Venus is unmistakable as the brilliant evening star, Mars will be above and left of it and much dimmer and will set at 10:13.. Venus itself will set at 9:28 p.m. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky, and will reach its greatest eastern elongation or separation from the Sun tomorrow.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter in the south above the star Spica with Saturn and Mercury peeking over the horizon in the southeast at 7 a.m. this morning, January 11, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons this morning and tomorrow morning, Created using Stellarium.
Venus, and Mars in the evening twilight of about an hour and three-quarters after sunset. 7 p.m. January 11, 2017. The Moon is out of the frame in the east. Created using Stellarium.
Venus in a telescope a few hours before its greatest apparent separation from the Sun. Tonight at 7 p.m. January 11, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen tonight, January 11, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 11, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on January 12. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
10/12/2016 – Ephemeris – Jupiter joins Mercury in the morning sky22
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 12th. The Sun will rise at 7:55. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 7:02. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:35 tomorrow morning.
Low in the east this morning at 7:15 both Mercury and Jupiter might be glimpsed, with Mercury just below Jupiter which is a bit brighter. Jupiter will rise at 6:38 a.m. and Mercury will rise at 6:47 a.m. Venus, Saturn and Mars are in the evening sky. Venus is briefly visible after sunset, low in the west. It will set at 8:20 p.m., following the Sun’s earlier setting times. Venus is still moving a bit southward and will still be hugging the southwestern horizon for the next month or so. Mars and Saturn can be seen in the darkened sky after Venus sets. Mars is way out to the left of Saturn passing above the Teapot of Sagittarius. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 9:35 p.m. Mars will set at 11:14 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and Mercury at 7:15 a.m. low in the east today October 12, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Saturn at 7:22 p.m. tonight October 12, 2016, looking to the southwest. I doubt if you could spot Saturn at this time. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn, Mars and the Moon at 8:30 p.m. October 12, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and moon as it might be seen in a telescope. at 8:30 p.m. October 12, 2016. More than likely only the satellite Titan would be seen with Saturn. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might be seen with binoculars tonight at 8:30 p.m. October 12, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 12, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on October 13. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
10/04/2016 – Ephemeris – The bright planets score: three in the evening and one in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 5th. The Sun will rise at 7:46. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 7:15. The Moon, 4 days before first quarter, will set at 10:04 this evening.
Mercury is seen in the morning now, rising at 6:21 today, and should be high enough to be visible between 7 and 7:30 this morning low in the east if it’s clear. Venus, Saturn and Mars are in the evening sky. Venus is briefly visible after sunset, low in the west-southwest. It will set at 8:28 p.m., following the Sun’s earlier setting times. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the southwestern sky in a lengthening triangle, with Saturn on top and Antares below. Mars is way out to the left of the other two. Tonight Saturn will be about 10 of the Moon’s diameter to the left of the crescent Moon. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 10 p.m. and Mars will set at 11:18 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury in the east at 7 a.m. this morning, October 5, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, low in west-southwest with the Moon (enlarged to show phase), Saturn and Mars at 7:35 p.m. (20 minutes after sunset). Created using Stellarium.
The Moon, Saturn, Antares and Mars with the low constellations in the southwest at 8:30 p.m. October 5, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 8:30 p.m. October 5, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 8:30 p.m. October 5, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 5, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on October 6. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/21/2016 – Ephemeris – Mercury escaped to the morning sky and Jupiter will soon follow
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 21st. The Sun will rise at 7:29. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 7:41. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 11:15 this evening.
Tonight we have four of the five bright classical planets in the evening sky. Mercury crossed into the morning sky last week, and Jupiter will follow next Monday. Jupiter is too close to the Sun to be seen. We are left with Venus, Saturn and Mars. Venus is briefly visible after sunset, low in the west. It will set at 8:42 p.m., following the Sun’s earlier setting times. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the southwestern sky in a lengthening triangle, with Saturn on top, Mars below and way out to the left, and Antares below Saturn. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 10:52 p.m. And Mars, moving rapidly to the east against the stars will set at 11:31 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking very low in the west at 8:01 p.m., 20 minutes after sunset, September 21, 2016. To see how Venus’ position changes from week to week, check out the last few Wednesday’s posts. I’m using the same landscape for each which is supplied by Stellarium. Created using Stellarium.
The lengthening Mars-Saturn-Antares triangle and the background constellations at 9 p.m., September 21, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 9 p.m. September 21, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 21, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on September 22. Mercury has escaped to the Morning sky and will rise at 614 a.m. on the 22nd. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/07/2016 – Ephemeris – Then there was one in the west and two in the southwest
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 7th. The Sun will rise at 7:12. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 8:07. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 11:29 this evening.
Tonight we still have all the bright classical planets in the evening sky, barely. Venus, Mercury, Jupiter are very low in the west, but only Venus is briefly visible after sunset. It will set at 9:03 p.m. Later this month Mercury and Jupiter will pass the Sun to become visible in the morning sky. Venus alone will remain in the evening sky, slowly pulling away from the Sun. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the southwestern sky in a triangle, with Saturn on top, Mars below and to the left, and Antares below and right of Mars. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 11:45 p.m. And Mars, moving rapidly to the east against the stars will set at 11:50 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking very low in the west at 8:30 p.m., 20 minutes after sunset, September 7, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon and the Mars-Saturn-Antares triangle at 9:30 p.m., September 7, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon tonight as it might be seen in binoculars at 9:30 p.m. September 7, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 9:30 p.m. September 7, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 7, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on September 8. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/31/2016 – Ephemeris – Two of the evening planets are easily visible, the other three, not so much
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 31st. The Sun will rise at 7:04. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 8:20. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:17 tomorrow morning.
Tonight we still have all the bright classical planets in the evening sky, barely. Mercury, Jupiter and Venus are very low in the west and will set at 9:02, 9:05 and 9:13 p.m. respectively. They are all but invisible. Next month Mercury and Jupiter will pass the Sun to become visible in the morning sky. Venus alone will remain in the evening sky, slowly pulling away from the Sun. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the southwestern sky in a triangle, with Saturn on tip, Mars below and to the left, and Antares below and right of Mars. Mars, moving rapidly to the east against the stars will set at 12:15 a.m. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 12:39 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking very low in the west at 8:40 p.m., 20 minutes after sunset, August 31, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Mars-Saturn-Antares triangle at 9:30 p.m., August 31, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 9:30 p.m. August 31, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 31, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on September 1. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/24/2016 – Ephemeris – Planets gather into two groups this evening
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 24th. The Sun rises at 6:56. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 8:32. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 12:31 tomorrow morning.
Tonight we still have all the bright classical planets in the evening sky, barely. Mercury, Venus and Jupiter are very low in the west and will set at 9:08, 9:24 and 9:29 p.m. respectively. Saturday evening, right after sunset, Venus will be passing very close to Jupiter while they are low in the west, well within a low power telescope field. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the southwestern sky in a nearly perfect line. Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars is On the bottom with brighter Mars just above it, with Saturn above. Mars, moving rapidly to the east against the stars will set at 12:15 a.m. Saturn, spectacular in telescopes with its rings, will set at 12:39 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addenda
The Planets Tonight
Looking very low in the west at 9 p.m., 28 minutes after sunset, August 24, 2016. For scale, Jupiter is a bit less than 5 degrees above the horizon, Mercury a bit lass than 2. Created using Stellarium.
Mars breaks out the Saturn-Antares lineup at 9:30 p.m., August 24, 2016. Created by Stellarium.using Stellarium.
Saturn and some of its moons at 9:30 p.m. August 24, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 24, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 25. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
Mars, Antares and Saturn Last Night
Saturn, Mars and Antares and the setting Scorpius to the right of the tree, and the Sagittarius Teapot with the Milky Way boiling out of the spout at 11:03 p.m. EDT, August 24, 2016. Credit Bob Moler from my back yard.
08/10/2016 – Ephemeris – The planets tonight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 10th. The Sun rises at 6:39. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 8:55. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 12:55 tomorrow morning.
Today we turn from the small meteoroids that orbit the Sun that are producing the Perseid Meteor Shower to the larger members of the solar family, namely the bright planets. Venus and Mercury are very low in the west-northwest and will set at 9:44 and 9:50 p.m. respectively. Jupiter is in the west in the evening. It will set at 10:19 p.m. Mars, Saturn and the star Antares start the evening in the south-southwestern sky as a tightening triangle, moving to the southwest during the evening. Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars is below Saturn with brighter Mars to the right. The Red Planet is back in Scorpius. It will set at 12:46 a.m. Mars is moving rapidly to the east against the stars. Saturn is spectacular in telescopes, with its rings. Saturn will set at 1:34 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury and Jupiter at 9:25 p.m. (30 minutes after sunset), August 10, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The planets, Moon and constellations at 10 p.m., August 10, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars tonight, August 10, 2016 at 10 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its moons at 10 p.m. August 10, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 10, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 11. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. Also shown is the Perseid meteor shower radiant. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
Also shown is the Perseid meteor shower radiant.
08/03/2016 – Ephemeris – Jupiter is slipping toward the setting Sun
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 3rd. The Sun rises at 6:31. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:05. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:29 this evening.
Venus and Mercury are in the evening sky but too close to the Sun to be easily seen. Check below for more information on the apparent interactions between the two. Jupiter will join the fray later this month. Jupiter is in the west in the evening. It will set at 10:44 p.m. Mars starts the evening in the south-southwestern sky, moving to the southwest. It’s right of its dimmer look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. The Red Planet is back in Scorpius. The planet will set at 1:07 a.m. Mars is resuming its rapid eastward motion against the stars. The ringed planet Saturn is low in the south. It’s to the left of Mars. Saturn will pass due south at 9:25 p.m. and will set at 2:02 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury the day old Moon (not really visible) and Jupiter at 9:25 p.m. (20 minutes after sunset), August 3, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Spotting the Moon and these planets requires a Lake Michigan horizon and may be futile. The farther one is to the south the greater the angle that the line of planets make with the horizon. This is not a good apparition of Mercury for us, but a good one for folks in the southern hemisphere.
The planets and constellations at 10 p.m., August 3, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its satellites at 10 p.m., August 3, 2016. It will be close to the horizon and fuzzy in telescopes. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 10 p.m. August 3, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 3, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 4. Actually all the naked eye planets are in the evening sky. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/27/2016 – Ephemeris – All the bright planets are now in the evening sky
Note: Mercury and Venus are in the evening sky but too low to be easily spotted, even with a Lake Michigan horizon, so I did not cover them in the program below but see the addendum.
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 27th. The Sun rises at 6:24. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 9:13. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:48 tomorrow morning.
Our evening planets are moving with the stars to the west, and setting almost a half hour earlier each week. Jupiter is in the west in the evening. It will set at 11:08 p.m. Binoculars can make out some of Jupiter’s moons, but a telescope is required to see all four bright moons and Jupiter’s cloud features. Mars starts the evening in the southern sky, moving to the southwest. It’s above and right of its dimmer look-a-like star Antares, whose name means Rival of Mars. The planet will set at 1:24 a.m. The Earth is pulling ahead of Mars so it’s now 65 million miles away and tiny in telescopes. The ringed planet Saturn is low in the south. It’s to the left of Mars. Saturn will pass due south at 9:53 p.m. and will set at 2:30 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mercury and Jupiter at 9:45 p.m. a half hour after sunset. Venus is 2 degrees above the horizon, and Mercury is 4 degrees. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter, Mars and Saturn with the southern summer constellations at 10:30 p.m., July 27, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 10:30 p.m. July 27, 2016. Jupiter’s apparent diameter will be 32.3″. Europa will be transiting the planet, and will probably not visible. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and its moons at 10:30 p.m. July 27, 2016. The apparent diameter of the planet will be 17.6″, larger than Mars’ disk. The rings span 41.1″, larger than the apparent diameter of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 27, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on July 28. If you are using Firefox right-click on the image and select View Image to enlarge the image. That goes for all the large images.
