Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 12th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 6:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:46. The Moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 10:32 this evening

It’s been a month since we’ve viewed the bright planets, so let’s have a look. Brilliant Venus is dominating the evening sky in the southwest until it sets at 9:47 p.m. Less noticed is tiny Mercury, below and right of Venus and near the horizon, perhaps best seen in binoculars. It will set at 7:41 p.m. In the morning sky Mars is first to appear and will rise in the east-southeast at 4:40 a.m. It’s brighter than it was last month, it’s 27 million miles closer at 171 million miles. Jupiter will rise at 5:54 a.m. in the east-southeast. This second brightest planet is approaching Saturn in our skies, and will continue until near Christmas. Saturn itself, will rise at 6:30 a.m. in the east-southeast.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and Mercury in the twilight at 6:45 p.m. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon and Spica at 7 a.m. in the southwest. Created using Stellarium.

The morning planets at 7 a.m. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of the planets at the same magnification with Venus tonight at 6:45 p.m. February 12, 2020. Mercury is too small to show a disk at this magnification. At 7 a.m. on the 13th Mars is too tiny to show a disk. Twilight is too bright and Saturn is too low to show its moons. But Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is turned toward the Earth.  Can you spot it? Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 12, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 13th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 8th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours even, setting at 5:19, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:19. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 7:15 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus is our evening star low in the southwest in the early evening. It will set at 8:20 p.m. Saturn sets only 20 minutes after sunset and is not visible. It will pass behind the Sun on the 13th and will then join Jupiter in the morning sky. Jupiter is too close to the Sun in the morning twilight to be seen. Mars is visible in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:02 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 198 million (319 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth at the rate of about 4 million miles (6 million km) a week. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be seen in the morning, but will move into the evening sky on Friday.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and the Gibbous Moon in the evening tonight at 7 p.m. January 8, 2020. Orion is still easily spotted in the moonlight. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The gibbous Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 7 p.m. January 8, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Venus, much larger than it would appear in any telescope to show its gibbous phase, tonight January 8, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Mars in the morning with the bright stars at 7 a.m. January 9, 2020. Note that Mars is approaching the red giant star Antares. The name Antares means “Rival of Mars” (Ant – anti, Ares -the Greek god of war that the Romans appropriated as Mars). Mars will pass 4.8 degrees north of Antares on the 17th. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 8, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 9th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Happy New Year, this is Ephemeris for New Years Day, Wednesday, January 1st. 2020. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 5:12. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 11:48 this evening.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus is our evening star low in the southwest in the early evening. It will set at 8:02 p.m. Saturn sets only 50 minutes after sunset and is not visible. It will pass behind the Sun on the 13th and will then join Jupiter in the morning sky. Jupiter is too close to the Sun in the morning twilight to be seen. Mars is visible in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:04 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 202 million (326 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth at the rate of about 4 million miles (6 million km) a week. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be seen in the morning, but will move into the evening sky on the 10th.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and the Moon in the evening tonight at 7 p.m. January 1, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The crescent Moon as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tonight at 7 p.m. January 1, 2020. Created using Stellarium.

Venus, much larger than it would appear in any telescope to show its gibbous phase, tonight January 1, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Mars in the morning with the bright stars at 7 a.m. January 1, 2020. Note that Mars is approaching the red giant star Antares. The name Antares means “Rival of Mars” (Ant – anti, Ares -the Greek god of war that the Romans appropriated as Mars). Mars will pass 4.8 degrees north of Antares on the 17th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 1, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 2nd. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Merry Christmas. This is Ephemeris for Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:07, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:18. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:42 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus is our Christmas Star low in the southwest in the early evening. It will set at 7:43 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 6:26 p.m. Tonight Saturn will be about 16 ½ degrees or more than the width of a fist held at arms length right and below the much brighter Venus. Jupiter is lost in twilight. It will pass behind the Sun on the Friday, entering the morning sky.

Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:07 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 206 million (332 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be seen in the morning.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and Saturn low on the southwest tonight at 6 p.m. December25, 2019. Saturn is only 3 1/2 degrees above the Lake Michigan horizon. Created using Stellarium.

Venus, much larger than it would appear in any telescope to show its gibbous phase, tonight December 25, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Mars in the morning with the bright stars at 7 a.m. December 26, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 25, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 26th. The Moon at the morning hour is south of the Sun having just completing a solar eclipse for Asia. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:03, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:15. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 12:28 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus will be briefly visible low in the southwest before it sets at 7:25 p.m. Jupiter is lost in twilight. It will pass behind the Sun on the 27th and will enter the morning sky. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 6:46 p.m. Tonight Saturn will be about 8 ½ degrees or Nearly the width of a fist held at arms length right and below the much brighter Venus. Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:10 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 211 million (339million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be seen in the morning.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and Saturn low ion the southwest tonight at 6 p.m. December18, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Venus, much larger than it would appear in any telescope to show its gibbous phase, tonight December 18, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Mars and the Moon in the morning with the bright stars at 7 a.m. December 19, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 7 a.m. tomorrow December 19, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 18, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 19th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:10. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 8:28 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus will be briefly visible low in the southwest before it sets at 7:06 p.m. Jupiter is lost in twilight. It will pass behind the Sun on the 27th and will enter the morning sky. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 7:13 p.m. Tonight Saturn will be about 2 degrees or 4 moon widths to the upper right of the much brighter Venus. Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:13 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 215 million (346 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be seen in morning twilight.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and Saturn low ion the southwest tonight at 6 p.m. December11, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Venus and Saturn with the same magnification at 6 p.m. tonight December 11, 2019. In the morning, I will show Mars here when it reaches an apparent diameter of 10″ (seconds of arc). It’s currently 4.0″. By the way Venus is 11.8″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The nearly full Moon at 6 p.m. tonight December 11, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Mars in the morning with the bright stars at 7 a.m. December 12, 2019. Mercury is on the horizon and most likely invisible. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 11, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 12th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:04. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 1:01 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus will be briefly visible low in the southwest before it sets at 6:54 p.m. Jupiter will be very difficult to spot below and right of Venus. It will set at 6:13 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 7:37 p.m. Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:16 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 219 million (353 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth. Mercury can be spotted after it rises in the east at 6:25 a.m. This is pretty much the end of its morning visibility, as the planet is moving around and behind the Sun. These oscillations from one side to the other of the Sun take on average of 116 days.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Venus and Saturn against a flat horizon tonight at 6 p.m. December 4, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The slightly gibbous Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 6 p.m. December 4, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Venus and Saturn with the same magnification at 6 p.m. tonight December 4, 2019. In the morning, I will show Mars here when it reaches an apparent diameter of 10″ (seconds of arc). It’s currently 4.0″. By the way Venus is 11.8″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Mars and Mercury in the morning with the star Spica at 7 a.m. December 4, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 4, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 5th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

78 orbits

Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 5:05, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:56. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 6:10 this evening.

Let’s look at all the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus will be briefly visible low in the west-southwest before it sets at 6:42 p.m. Jupiter will appear to the right of Venus tonight. It will set at 6:34 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the south-southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 8:01 p.m. Jupiter is approaching Saturn in our sky, and when we see them again next year they will appear very close. Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:19 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 223 million (359 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth. Mercury can be spotted after it rises in the east at 6:06 a.m. It will be at its greatest separation from the Sun tomorrow morning.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Jupiter, Venus and Saturn against a flat horizon tonight at 6 p.m. November 27, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 6 p.m. tonight November 27, 2019. In the morning, I will show Mars here when it reaches an apparent diameter of 10″ (seconds of arc).  It’s currently 3.9″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Mars and Mercury in the morning with the star Spica at 7 a.m. November 28, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on November 27, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 28th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.

Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 24 minutes, setting at 5:10, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:47. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:24 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus is starting to make an evening appearance. It will be briefly visible low in the west-southwest before it sets at 6:33 p.m. Jupiter will be very low in the southwestern sky as it gets dark. It will set at 6:55 p.m. Saturn, the ringed planet, will be in the south-southwestern sky in the evening, and will set at 8:26 p.m. Jupiter is approaching Saturn in our sky. Mars is in the morning sky and will rise in the east-southeast at 5:22 a.m. It’s not very bright because it’s 226 million (365 million km) miles away, but it’s getting slowly closer to the Earth. Mercury can be spotted after it rises in the east at 6:11 a.m. It will be getting brighter over the next two weeks.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn against a lake horizon at 6 p.m. November 20, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with the same magnification at 6 p.m. tonight November 20, 2019. In the morning, Mars is to tiny. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Mars and Mercury in the morning at 7 a.m. November 21, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars, including earth shine, at 7 a.m. tomorrow November 21, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on November 20, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.