Archive
05/29/2013 – Ephemeris – Planetary breakup in the west while Saturn looks on
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 29th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 9:18. The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 1:10 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:01.
The early evening will be taken up with the slow breakup of the grouping of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10 p.m. Mercury now is on top with Venus below with Jupiter below Venus. Jupiter will set at 10:48 with Venus following 9 minutes later. Mercury will set at 11 p.m. Hanging backing from this planetary grouping in the east southeast 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 11:30 p.m., and will set at 4:48 tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury, Venus and Jupiter low in the west northwest at 10 p.m. on May 29, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and the constellations of the south at 11 p.m. on May 29, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
05/27/2013 – Ephemeris – They’re breaking up that old planet gang of mine
Ephemeris for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 9:16. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:51 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:02. | Tonight the planets Jupiter and Venus will appear close together in the west northwest after 10 p.m. With Mercury above them and to the left. Find a spot with a low western horizon to check them out. The grouping will break up from there. But in the days to come keep checking out Venus and Mercury. A week ago I was doing some telescope work at the Leelanau School’s Lanphier Observatory on the shore of Sleeping Bear bay. It was a gorgeously clear night. Twilight was fading. The fat crescent moon was high in the southwest, with Jupiter in the west. Venus was visible just above the horizon. A great many stars were visible too. The sight took this old astronomer’s breath away.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Update: I spotted the three last night in that tight triangle in a binocular field. Venus was easiest to spot, then Jupiter and Mercury. It was a gorgeous sight.
Addendum
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
05/24/2013 – Ephemeris – The grouping of planets will reach its climax Sunday
Ephemeris for Friday, May 24th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 9:13. The moon, 1 day before full, will set at 6:31 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:04.
This holiday weekend the planet grouping of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury reach their most compact. The group is collapsing rapidly, and the planets will be at their most compact Sunday night the 26th. For a preview of the planet’s motion go to my blog at bobmoler.wordpress.com. As far as any astronomical significance to this alignment of the planets, there isn’t any. Astrologers make a big deal of such groupings, called conjunctions but astronomers have long since discarded astrology as not having any scientific value. Conjunctions like this are reasonably rare and rather remarkable in appearance. It is for this reason that we track and observe them. The heavens are filled with beauty,
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m. on May 24, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation if it has stopped.
05/23/2013 – Ephemeris – The planetary group tightens
Ephemeris for Thursday, May 23rd. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 5 minutes, setting at 9:12. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 5:39 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:05.
Lets take a look at the planet jam in the west after sunset. There’s a rather short period and a very low western horizon that will let you see them. Jupiter will be on top, with Venus just below and to its right. Mercury will be to Venus’ right and just a bit higher. The separation from Jupiter to Mercury is just under 6 degrees, a bit more than half the width of a fist held at arm’s length. It is generally true that the width of one fist held at arm’s length describes a ten degree angle in the sky, Kind of a rule of thumb, or in this case fist to help one gauge the sky with out a sextant or quadrant. Tomorrow the grouping will be getting even more compact. Reaching their most compact Sunday evening.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m. on May 23, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
05/22/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 22nd. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 4 minutes, setting at 9:11. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 4:54 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:06.
The early evening will be taken up with the grouping of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10 p.m. Jupiter will be on top and the easiest to spot with Venus below and right of Jupiter and tiny Mercury off to its right. Mercury sets at 10:24 p.m., with Venus following a minute later, while Jupiter will set at 10:48. Hanging backing from this planetary grouping in the east southeast 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. Tonight Saturn will be to the left of and above the bright moon. Saturn will pass due south at midnight, and will set at 5:16 tomorrow morning.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
Saturn and the moon at 10 p.m. on May 22, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
05/21/2013 – Ephemeris – Dances with Planets
Ephemeris for Tuesday, May 21st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 2 minutes, setting at 9:10. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:17 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:07.
Over the next week there will be a planet grouping low in the west about 10 p.m. as Jupiter continues it slide toward the sun while Venus and Mercury move away from the sun. Mercury will earn its title as the messenger of the gods, and fastest planet by overtaking Venus and Jupiter on consecutive nights. The group of the three planets will be their most compact on Sunday night he 26th. Tonight however Mercury will be to the right and a bit below Venus with Jupiter above and left of them both. Tomorrow night Mercury will have moved to be almost level with Venus, while Jupiter drops toward them. On bobmoler.wordpress.com there is an animation of these planets for the next 8 days.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.
02/20/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 20th. The sun will rise at 7:34. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 6:18. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 4:43 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mercury can still be seen low in the west southwest. It will set at 7:50. This is a good apparition of Mercury for us in the northern hemisphere. Binoculars will help you locate it low in the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus and moves from the high south to the southwest during the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 6:59 p.m, and will set at 2:31 a.m. Jupiter is a wonderful sight in telescopes with its cloud bands and its moons which change positions each night. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 12:07 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s located in eastern Virgo. Saturn will pass due south at 5:17 a.m. It will rise before midnight in a couple of days.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury low on the western horizon at 7:15 p.m. on February 20, 2013. Created using Stellarium 0.12.0.
Jupiter and the stars of winter at 9 p.m. on February 20, 2013. Created using Stellarium 0.12.0
Saturn and the coming stars of late spring and early summer at 6 a.m. on February 21, 2013. Created using Stellarium 0.12.0.
02/13/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, February 13th. The sun will rise at 7:45. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 6:08. The moon, 3 days past new, will set at 10:23 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mercury can be seen low in the southwest. Mercury will set at 7:41 p.m. This is a good apparition of Mercury for us in the northern hemisphere. Binoculars will help you locate it low in the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus and moves from the high southeast to the high southwest during the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 7:25 p.m, and will set at 2:56 a.m. Jupiter is a wonderful sight in telescopes with its cloud bands and its moons which change positions each night. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 12:34 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s located in eastern Virgo. Saturn will pass due south at 5:44 a.m. It will rise before midnight by the end of the month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury and the moon at 7:15 p.m. on February 13, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the winter constellations at 9 p.m. on February 13, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and the late spring and early summer constellations, as seen in the evening, but at 6 a.m. February 14, 2013.
2/11/2013 – Ephemeris – The moon will appear near Mercury tonight
Ephemeris for Monday, February 11th. The sun will rise at 7:48. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 17 minutes, setting at 6:05. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 8:09 this evening.
Mercury will appear below the skinny crescent moon tonight shortly after sunset. The best time to spot them is about 6:45 p.m. looking very low to the west southwestern horizon. Binoculars as always are a real help in picking them out of the evening twilight. Mercury will appear about 6 degrees or 12 moon widths below the moon. They will be actually at their closest appearance this afternoon, and will have separated a bit before we will get to see them. As a rule of thumb, the moon will move its diameter against the stars in an hour’s time. Mercury’s got its thing going too. In 5 days it will be at greatest elongation or apparent angle of separation from the sun of about 18.1 degrees. At about the same time Mercury will actually pass its closest to the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury and the moon at 7:15 p.m. on February 11, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Note a one day old moon doesn’t show well in this view.
02/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 6th. The sun will rise at 7:54. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 5:58. The moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 5:36 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mars and Mercury can be seen low in the southwest. Mercury will set at 7:09, Mars 8 minutes later. Mercury will be the brighter of the two. They will be closest this Friday. I’ll talk more about that then. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus and moves from the high southeast to the high southwest during the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 7:51 p.m, and will set at 3:22 a.m. Jupiter is a wonderful sight in telescopes with its cloud bands and its moons which change positions each night. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 1:01 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s located in eastern Virgo. Saturn will pass due south at 6:11 a.m. It will rise before midnight by the end of the month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury approaches Mars at 6:45 p.m. in the west on February 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with the winter stars at 9 p.m. on February 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Previewing the Late spring stars with Saturn at 6 a.m. on February 7, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 