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11/27/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets and what’s up with Comet ISON?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 27th. The sun will rise at 7:54. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 5:05. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:46 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this eventful week. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:53 p.m. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 8:01 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 3:38 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:47 a.m. also in the east northeast. Reddish Mars is midway between Regulus in Leo and Spica in Virgo and tomorrow morning will be about 12 moon diameters above left of the moon. Mercury and Saturn will be together in the east southeast by 7 a.m. Mercury is the lower and brighter of the two. Comet ISON is now too close to the sun to be seen. Check bobmoler.wordpress.com (see below) for how to view Comet ISON near the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus as it should appear at 6 p.m. on 11/27/2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus as it should appear at 6 p.m. on 11/27/2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and some winter constellations as they should appear at 10 p.m. on 11/27/2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter and its satellites as they should appear at 10 p.m. on 11/27/2013. The satellite Io is behind the planet and won’t appear until after midnight. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets Mars, Saturn and Mercury plus the Moon at 6:45 a.m. November 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium
The Moon at 6:45 a.m. November 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Comet ISON
Phil Plait the Bad Astronomer reported Monday that Comet ISON had suddenly decreased the amount of ices that it was emitting and pretty much simultaneously greatly increased the amount of dust it was producing. One of the possible explanations was that its nucleus had been disrupted. The comet’s nucleus is the small, maybe 2 km diameter, solid part of the comet. All the other parts of the comet are the thin ejected gas and dust from that nucleus. The head and tail of the comet is still a pretty good vacuum by earthly standards. There is still questions about it today. Here’s a YouTube video posted by the Planetary Society’s Emily Lakdawalla created by Emily from images taken by the STEREO Ahead spacecraft. It seems to be holding its own:
Here is the Planetary Society Blog entry that discusses Comet ISON’s then current status.
At the time of this posting (10 p.m. 11/26) the STEREO Behind COR 2 image shows Comet ISON entering on the lower left. Also SOHO’s LASCO C3 imager shows Comet ISON entering the view from the lower right. There’s also a coronal mass ejection (CME) erupting toward the comet. It could pass behind it, in front of it or actually toward it. It should be interesting.
Live programming of NASA-TV Thanksgiving Day
November 28, Thursday
1 – 3:30 p.m. – NASA Google+ Hangout: Comet ISON – GSFC (All Channels)
Here’s a link to NASA-TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
11/22/2013 – Ephemeris – President Kennedy and the quest for the Moon plus Comet ISON finder charts
Ephemeris for Friday, November 22nd. The sun will rise at 7:48. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 5:08. The moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 9:43 this evening.
Today marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Yes I remember where I was when I heard the news. Being a program about astronomy and space I’d like to think about the challenge he laid down “to send a man to the moon and return him safely to the Earth by the end of the decade”. This was in the midst of the Cold War in response to the Soviet’s triumph in sending Yuri Gagarin into orbit. It was made almost a sacred vow due to Kennedy’s assassination. No NASA program since was funded to the extent that the Gemini and Apollo programs were, so that on July 20, 1969 that promise was fulfilled. All of money spent in NASA’s 55 years is actually less than that of the recent bank bailout.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Comet ISON
Finder charts for Comet ISON for this morning, Saturday, Sunday and Monday mornings.
Chart for finding Comet ISON this morning (November 22, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
Chart for finding Comet ISON Saturday morning (November 23, 2013 at 7:00 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
Chart for finding Comet ISON Sunday morning (November 24, 2013 at 7:00 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
Chart for finding Comet ISON Monday morning (November 25, 2013 at 7:15 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
11/20/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets and Comet ISON this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 20th. The sun will rise at 7:46. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 5:09. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 7:52 this evening.
Let’s see where the bright planets are this week. Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset. It will set at 7:52 p.m. The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 8:31 p.m. in the east northeast. It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now. It will pass due south at 7:47 a.m. Mars will rise at 1:47 a.m. also in the east northeast. Reddish Mars is two widths of a fist held at arm’s length below and left of the bright star Regulus in Leo now. Comet ISON is now about magnitude 5, now meeting current brightness predictions, Officially naked eye, you’ll probably still need binoculars to spot it. Comet ISON is below and left of the star Spica low in the east southeast and will rise about 5:50 a.m. and be visible until around 6:30 a.m. above the planet Mercury.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus low in the southwest at 6 p.m., November 20, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus on November 20, 2013. The cloud banding will not be visible. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter in the east at 10 p.m. on November 20, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
A telescopic view of Jupiter at 10 p.m. The moon Io is peeking around Jupiter. Up is to the top. The view in your telescope may vary. Created using Stellarium.
The magnified Moon. Created using Stellarium.
Mars and Leo at 6 a.m. November 21, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Chart for finding Comet ISON this morning (November 20, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
Chart for finding Comet ISON this morning (November 21, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.). Chart created using Cartes du Ciel.
08/07/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 7th. The sun rises at 6:36. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 8:59. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:00 this evening.
Lets check out the planets visible now. Venus is now brilliant low in the western sky in evening twilight, It will set at 10:23 p.m. Holding forth in the southwest will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. It will set at 12:14 tomorrow morning. In the morning sky before sunrise Jupiter will rise at 3:33, with Mars rising shortly after at 4:06, which will appear below and left of Jupiter by four and a half degrees or half the width of your fist held at arm’s length. Mercury will rise at 5:12 a.m. tomorrow. It will nearly two widths of your fist below and left of Jupiter. For sharp-eyed observers we have 5 planets visible now.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Saturn at 10 p.m. on August 7, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Morning planets and stars at 5:30 a.m. on August 8, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
07/31/2013 – Ephemeris – All 5 bright planets are visible now
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 24th. The sun rises at 6:20. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 9:16. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 10:12 this evening.
Lets check out the planets visible now. Venus is now low in the west northwestern sky in evening twilight, Venus will set at 10:44 p.m. Holding forth in the southwest will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Saturn is a wonderful sight in a telescope of 20 power or more. In telescopes Saturn’s large moon Titan can be easily seen. Saturn will set at 1:04 tomorrow morning. Jupiter and Mars will rise close together at 4:14 and 4:17 a.m. Respectively in the east northeast in morning twilight. The much dimmer Mars will appear to the lower left of the brighter Jupiter, and may take binoculars to locate.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Saturn at 10 p.m. on July 31, 2013. Created using Stellarium
Animation of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter at one day intervals from July 31 to August 7, 2013 at 5:45 a.m. Created using Stellarium and the GIMP.
07/24/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets in the sky this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 24th. The sun rises at 6:20. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 9:16. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 10:12 this evening.
Lets check out the planets visible now. Venus is now low in the west northwestern sky in evening twilight, Venus will set at 10:44 p.m. Holding forth in the southwest will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Saturn is a wonderful sight in a telescope of 20 power or more. In telescopes Saturn’s large moon Titan can be easily seen. Saturn will set at 1:04 tomorrow morning. Jupiter and Mars will rise close together at 4:14 and 4:17 a.m. Respectively in the east northeast in morning twilight. The much dimmer Mars will appear to the lower left of the brighter Jupiter, and may take binoculars to locate.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Saturn at 10:15 p.m. on July 24, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on Image to enlarge.
Jupiter, Mars and Mercury in morning twilight at 5:20 a.m. on July 25, 2013. I didn’t mention Mercury on the program because it’s very difficult to spot. Created using Stellarium.
06/19/2013 – Ephemeris – Mercury and Venus one last time
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 19th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:30. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:28 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.
The early evening will still be taken up with Venus and faint Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10:15 p.m. Mercury is below and left of Venus by 2 degrees, about 4 times the width of the moon. Mercury has dropped greatly in brightness as its phase is now a crescent, moving between the sun and the earth. Mercury will set at 10:56, and Venus will set at 11:03 p.m. Holding forth in the south will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Saturn is a wonderful sight in a telescope of 20 power or more. Saturn will pass due south at 10:04 p.m., and will set at 3:23 tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mercury conjunction seen at 10:15 p.m. June 19 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn, the moon and bright stars at 11 p.m. June 19, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
06/12/2012 – Ephemeris – Three planets still in the evening sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 12th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 9:28. The moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 11:55 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.
The early evening will be taken up with Venus and faint Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10:15 p.m. The crescent moon is nearby to the left. Mercury is above and left of Venus by about 5 degrees, about half the width of your fist at arm’s length. Mercury is at its greatest separation or elongation from the sun today of 24 degrees angle. Venus will set at 10:59, and Mercury will set at 11:14 p.m. Holding forth in the south will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Saturn is a wonderful sight in a telescope of 20 power or more. Saturn will pass due south at 10:33 p.m., and will set at 3:51 tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus and the moon at 10:15 p.m. on June 12, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Note that the moon at this phase (thin crescent) doesn’t show at this scale, so the moon’s position is shown as full.
Saturn and constellations at 11 p.m. on June 12, 2013. Note Scorpius rising to the left. Created using Stellarium.
06/10/2013 – Ephemeris – Mercury and Venus in the west
Ephemeris for Monday, June 10th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 29 minutes, setting at 9:27. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 10:49 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.
Tonight the moon will join Mercury and Venus low in the west northwest at around 10:15. Venus will be the easiest to spot. Mercury will be above Venus and to the left. Binoculars may help you spot it. The crescent moon will be to the left and a bit below Venus. If you’ve been watching these planets for the past two weeks you’ve probably noticed that Mercury is getting fainter. That’s because its phase is becoming less full as moves around the sun toward us. It’s phase is now a bit more than half illuminated. Wednesday it will be half illuminated as it reaches its greatest elongation from the sun, a whopping 24 degree angle from the sun. That’s pretty good for us observing from the northern hemisphere.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus and the crescent moon in the west northwest at 10:15 p.m. on June 19, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
06/05/2013 – Ephemeris – Then there were two… planets that is, in the west
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 5th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 9:23. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 4:43 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:58.
The early evening will be taken up with Venus and Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10:15 p.m. Mercury is above and left of Venus by about 5 degrees, about half the width of your fist at arms length. Jupiter is out of it now, setting at 10:07. We’ll see it next in late July in the morning sky. Venus will set at 10:49, and Mercury will set at 11:16 p.m. Holding forth in the south will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica. Saturn will pass due south at 11:01 p.m., and will set at 4:19 tomorrow morning. I’ll talk about star and planet colors on tomorrow’s program.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury and Venus seen in the west northwest after sunset. Here it’s 10:15 p.m. on June 5, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Looking south at Saturn and surrounding constellations at 11 p.m. on June 5, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 