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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.
01/30/2013 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 30th. The sun will rise at 8:03. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 45 minutes, setting at 5:48. The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 9:58 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mars can be seen low in the west southwest. It will set at 7:15 p.m, two minutes later than last week because Mars is moving northward. The sun is gaining on it since it sets 10 minutes later each week. Jupiter will be visible in the southeast as it gets dark. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus and moves from the southeast to the high south southwest during the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 8:15 p.m, and will set at 3:45 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 1:24 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s located in eastern Virgo. Saturn will pass due south at 6:38 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the west southwest with Mercury just below the horizon at 6:30 p.m. on January 30, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
On February 8th Mercury will appear closest to Mars. Mercury’s greatest elongation from the sun will be on February 16th.
Jupiter and the stars of Taurus and Orion at 9 p.m. on January 30, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
Also see the Pleiades right and just above Jupiter.
Saturn and the moon in Virgo at 6 a.m. on January 31, 2013. Created using Stellarium.
The moon will pass Saturn Sunday morning February 3rd.
12/12/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 12th. The sun will rise at 8:10. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:18 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. It will set at 7:04 p.m. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus on the southeast in the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 11:47 p.m, and will set at 7:19 a.m. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 4:24 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 6:02 and is below and left of Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:36 a.m. Below and left of Venus. A half an hour later it should be high enough to spot. The three planets will appear in a straight line and nearly equally spaced. After a few days Mercury will not be visible again until next February.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on December 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the winter stars at 9 p.m. December 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with its Great Red Spot November 18, 2012 by Scott Anttila.
Jupiter with Callisto above, Ganymede and its shadow below on December 6, 2012 by Scott Anttila, Click to enlarge.
Saturn, Venus and Mercury at 6:45 a.m. ay December 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
12/05/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are all the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 5th. The sun will rise at 8:04. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 12:03 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. All 5 classical planets are visible now. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars will set at 7:05. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus on the southeast in the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 12:18 a.m, and will set at 7:51. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 4:48 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 5:44 and is below and left of Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:16 a.m. Below and left of Venus. A half an hour later it should be high enough to spot . The three planets will appear in a straight line and nearly equally spaced. After about a week, Mercury will not be visible again until next spring.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on December 5, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the winter stars at 9 p.m. on December 5, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury animation from December 4 to thru 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium
12/04/2012 – Ephemeris – Mercury in the morning
Ephemeris for Tuesday, December 4th. The sun will rise at 8:02. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:59 this evening.
The planet Mercury has joined the morning planets for a week or so. Mercury can be best spotted low in the east southeast starting about 7 a.m. It will be below and slightly left of Venus, the brightest planet, about the same distance below as Saturn is above Venus. They’re just about in straight line. Binoculars will help in the search. Once found Mercury may be tracked past 7:30. Mercury will be visible for about a week as become somewhat brighter as it does. That’s because Mercury’s phase at its half illuminated today at its greatest elongation from the sun. It will be becoming more and more full as it moves around the sun mostly away from us now. Mercury is a prise, few people have ever seen it.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury animation starting December 4, 2012. Created using Stellarium
Note the passage of the moon on the mornings of the 10th and 11th. The moon will actually be a thin crescent.
11/28/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 28th. The sun will rise at 7:56. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 5:04. The moon, at full today, will rise at 5:18 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. First there will be a penumbral eclipse of the moon this morning which we will not be able see. Penumbral eclipses are not very noticeable. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars will set at 7:07. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 5:16 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. Tonight it will appear right above the moon. It will transit or pass due south at 12:49 a.m. Jupiter will reach opposition from the sun this Saturday December 1st, and will officially be part of the evening sky. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 5:15 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 5:23 and is almost directly below Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:13 and will be seen below and left of Venus.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on November 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon at 6:15 p.m. low in the east northeast on November 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn, Venus and Mercury low in the east southeast at 6:30 a.m. November 29, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
07/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Sun and planet viewing tonight
Ephemeris for Friday, July 6th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 9:29. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:06 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:05.
This evening the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory at 8 p.m. This meeting will be devoted to viewing the sun through the society’s new solar telescope. After that starting at 9 p.m. Will be a star party. For both events, the public is welcome. The tiny planet Mars and the ringed planet Saturn will be visible as will a number of binary stars and brighter wonders of the heavens as the skies darken. Mercury is now receded toward the sun so is not visible. For the rest of the abbreviated planet report this week: A note for early risers that Jupiter and Venus make a fine sight low in the east northeast in the morning after 5 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
06/28/2012 – Ephemeris – Mercury near greatest elongation from the sun
Ephemeris for Thursday, June 28th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 2:16 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:00.
Saturday will be the greatest eastern elongation of Mercury from the sun. It’s a whopping 26 degrees angle east from the sun. Mercury has a markedly elliptical orbit. And when we have a spring eastern elongation, its around 18 degrees from the sun. The best western elongations for us are in the autumn when again the elongation angle is 18 degrees. I won’t go into the why of all this here. But we’re getting an extra good view of this tiny planet. The best time to look for Mercury starts about 10:15 p.m. and ends about 10:45 when Mercury is too close to the horizon. The stars Pollux and Castor of Gemini will appear just to the right of Mercury, and will provide a check that you really have found it.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury with the bright stars Pollux and Castor at 10:30 p.m. June 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 