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02/08/2017 – Ephemeris – Four bright planets are visible, two each in the evening and morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 8th. The Sun will rise at 7:52. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 9 minutes, setting at 6:01. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:44 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the bright planets for this week. Saturn can be glimpsed this morning in the southeast at 7 a.m. It will rise tomorrow at 4:35 a.m. in the east-southeast. Jupiter can be seen in the south-southwest this morning above the star Spica in Virgo. Jupiter will rise tonight at 11:19 p.m. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 7 p.m. these planets will be seen in the west-southwestern sky. Venus is unmistakable as the brilliant evening star, Mars will be left and above it and much dimmer. Mars will set at 10:14. Venus itself will set at 9:52 p.m. Venus exhibits a dazzling fat crescent in small telescopes now, but a month from now as it gets closer to Earth the thinning crescent will be big enough to be seen in binoculars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the evening twilight of about an hour after sunset. 7 p.m. February 8, 2017. Venus is now drawing away from Mars as it heads toward the Sun faster than Mars. Their apparent paths won’t cross again until October in the October sky. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as it might appear in a telescope tonight February 8, 2017. I processed the image to overexpose it as it would appear in a telescope. Created using Stellarium.
What the Moon might look like in binoculars tonight at 7 p.m. February 8, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter in the south above the star Spica with Saturn the southeast at 7 a.m. this morning, February 9, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moon in a compact arrangement as they might appear in telescopes this morning at 7 a.m. February 8, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons as they might appear in telescopes this morning at 7 a.m. February 8, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 8, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on February 9. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
02/01/2017 – Ephemeris – February’s first look at the planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 1st. The Sun will rise at 8:00. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:51. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 11:15 this evening.
Let’s check out the bright planets for this week. Saturn can be glimpsed this morning in the southeast at 7 a.m. It will rise tomorrow at 5 a.m. in the east-southeast. Jupiter can be seen in the south-southwest this morning above the star Spica in Virgo. Jupiter will rise tonight at 11:43 p.m. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 7 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, the Moon higher still and in line. Mars will set at 10:14. Venus itself will set at 9:52 p.m. Venus exhibits a dazzling fat crescent in small telescopes now, but a month from now as it gets closer to Earth the thinning crescent will be big enough to be seen in binoculars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Note: If you are looking for the February Preview post check out yesterday’s post.
Addendum
Jupiter in the south above the star Spica with Saturn the southeast at 7 a.m. this morning, February 2, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter as it might appear in telescopes this morning at 7 a.m. February 1, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Saturn and Titan as they might appear in telescopes this morning at 7 a.m. February 1, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Venus, Mars and the Moon in the evening twilight of about an hour after sunset, 7 p.m. February 1, 2017. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as it might appear in a telescope tonight February 1, 2017. I processed the image to overexpose it as it would appear in a telescope. Created using Stellarium.
What the Moon might look like in binoculars tonight at 7 p.m. February 1, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on February 1, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on February 2. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/25/2017 – Ephemeris – Two planets on the morning and two in the evening
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 25th. The Sun will rise at 8:08. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 5:42. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:56 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the bright planets for this week. Saturn can be glimpsed this morning at 7 a.m. It will rise tomorrow at 5:25 in the east-southeast. Jupiter can be seen in the south-southwest this morning above the star Spica in Virgo. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 12:14 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 10:14. Venus itself will set at 9:47 p.m. Venus exhibits a dazzling fat crescent in small telescopes now, but a month from now as it gets closer to Earth the thinning crescent will be big enough to be seen in binoculars.
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 25, 2017. The Moon shows as a big blob when it’s really a very thin crescent. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons as they might be seen in a telescope at 7 a.m. this morning January 25, 2016. Though Europa is transiting the face of Jupiter it will not really be visible against the face of Jupiter. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Jupiter satellite events for 2017 can be fund here: http://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm.
Saturn and its moon Titan as they might be seen in a telescope at 7 a.m. this morning, January 25, 2016. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Venus, and Mars in the evening twilight of about 50 minutes after sunset. 6:30 p.m. January 25, 2017. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as it might appear in a telescope tonight January 25, 2016. I processed the image to overexpose it as it would appear in a telescope. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 25, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on January 26. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
01/18/2017 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 18th. The Sun will rise at 8:13. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 5:32. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 12:32 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the bright planets for this week. Saturn can be glimpsed this morning at 7 a.m. It will rise tomorrow at 5:49 in the east-southeast. Jupiter can be seen in the south-southwest this morning above the star Spica in Virgo. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 12:40 a.m. Tomorrow the last quarter Moon will appear near Jupiter. 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 10:14. Venus itself will set at 9:39 p.m. Venus exhibits a fat crescent in small telescopes now, but next month as it gets closer the thinning crescent will be big enough to be seen in binoculars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, and Mars in the evening twilight of about an hour after sunset. 6:30 p.m. January 18, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click image to enlarge.
Venus as it might appear in a telescope tonight January 18, 2016. I processed the image to overexpose it as it would appear in a telescope. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon and Jupiter in the south above the star Spica with Saturn and Mercury peeking over the horizon in the southeast at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning, January 19, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click image to enlarge.
The Moon, Jupiter, and the star Spica tomorrow at 7 a.m., January 19, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons tomorrow morning at 7 a.m., January 19, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 18, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on January 19. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
In Memorium
Yesterday we lost the 11th man to set foot on the Moon and the last one to leave it. Eugene Cernan, the commander of Apollo 17 hated the title of “The last man to walk on the Moon”, and hoped before he died that another would walk on the Moon, lifting that title from his shoulders. Of the 12 men who walked on the Moon, half are now gone. The way things are going the next person to walk on the Moon will probably be Chinese. Godspeed Eugene Cernan.
Eugene Cernan with the American Flag and the lunar rover. Credit: NASA/Harrison Schmitt
The first and last men on the Moon. Neil Armstrong, left and Eugene Cernan. File photo.
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.
01/04/17 – Ephemeris – Saturn is poking its head up into the morning twilight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 4th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 5:16. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:14 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our first look at the bright planets for 2017. Saturn can be glimpsed now in the morning, rising at 6:40 in the east-southeast. Jupiter can be glimpsed even as the sky brightens. It’s in the south at 7 a.m.. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 1:29 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 will set at 9:15 p.m. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky, and is only 8 days from reaching it’s greatest eastern elongation or separation from the Sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mars and the Moon in the evening twilight of about an hour and three-quarters after sunset. 7 p.m. January 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Venus in a telescope at near half phase as it approaches its greatest apparent separation from the Sun, tonight January 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen tonight through binoculars, January 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter in the south with Saturn peeking over the horizon in the southeast at 7 a.m. this morning, January 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons this morning, January 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 4, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on January 5. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/21/2016 – Ephemeris – A look at the bright planets at the start of winter
Ephemeris for the winter solstice Wednesday, December 21st. The Sun will rise at 8:17. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:05. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:46 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the naked eye planets now that it’s officially winter as of 5:45 a.m. In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 2:16 a.m. and will appear below the Moon. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus is unmistakable as the brilliant evening star, Mars will be above and left of it. Venus will set at 8:46. Mars will set at 10:12. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last 2 months. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky, and is closing in on it’s greatest eastern elongation from the Sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Mars in the evening twilight of about an hour after sunset. 6 p.m. December 21, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as it might be seen in a telescope at 6 p.m. December 21, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon at 7 a.m. December 22, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear in binoculars at 7 a.m. December 22, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its Galilean moons at 7 a.m. December 22, 2016. Io is behind Jupiter at this time, however it will clear the planet by 7:38 a.m. EST (12:38 UT). Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Update 8:10 a.m.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 21, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 22. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/14/2016 – Ephemeris – Mercury is seen briefly with the evening planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 14th. The Sun will rise at 8:12. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 6:17 this evening.
In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 2:39 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter as it appears to move away from the Sun. We will pass it on April 7th next year. Mercury, Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Mercury will require a very low horizon, Venus will be the higher and the brightest of the three, Mars will be higher to the left. Mercury will set at 6:24 p.m., Venus will set at 8:30. Mars will set at 10:11. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last month and a half. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus, Mars and Mercury in the trees at 6 p.m., December 14, 2016. This is approximately one hour after sunset. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury might be spotted a half hour earlier a bit higher with binoculars.
Jupiter the Moon and a preview of the southern spring constellations at 6:30 a.m. December 15, 2016. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon at 6:30 a.m. December 15, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 6:30 a.m. December 15, 2016. Io appeared from behind Jupiter at 5:42 a.m. (10:42 UT). Image 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 December 14, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 15. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
12/07/2016 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 7th*. The Sun will rise at 8:06. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 1:16 tomorrow morning.
In the east-southeast before 7:30 these mornings. Jupiter can be glimpsed in the morning twilight. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 3:01 a.m. We are approaching Jupiter as it appears to move away from the Sun. We will pass it on April 7th next year. Venus and Mars are in the evening sky. At 6 p.m. these planets will be seen in the southwest and low in the sky. Venus will be the lower and brighter of the two, Mars will be higher to the left. Venus will set at 8:14. Mars will hang on a bit longer and will set at 10:10. Mars’ setting time hasn’t changed much in the last month and a half. It’s losing to the Sun by only a little bit each day. Venus is slowly heading northward for the rest of it’s evening appearance, and is moving higher in the sky.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
* 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was only 3 days old at the time, so had nothing to do with it.
Addendum
Venus, Mars and the Moon at 6 p.m., December 7, 2016. This is approximately one hour after sunset. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
A closeup of the Moon at 6 p.m., December 7, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and a preview of spring constellations at 6:30 a.m. December 8, 2016. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons at 6:30 a.m. December 8, 2016. Europa is in Jupiter’s shadow at this time. It will disappear in its shadow at 4:46 a.m. (9:46 UT). Image created using Cartes du Ciel. Note that Europa was on the image, but was removed. Stellarium had it right, but I prefer Cartes’ rendering.
Planets and Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on December 7, 2016. The night ends on the left with sunrise on December 8. Click on image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Note that Saturn is practically plotted on top of the Sun. It will be in conjunction with the Sun on the 10th. After that it will enter the morning sky.
11/25/2016 – Ephemeris – The Moon is near Jupiter this morning
Ephemeris for Friday, November 25th. The Sun will rise at 7:53. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 5:06. The Moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:53 tomorrow morning.
The Moon passed Jupiter about 9 last night, and so this morning is to the left and a bit below the bright planet. The Moon is a waning crescent a bit less than 10% illuminated by the Sun from our vantage point. Or maybe it’s more proper to say we see less than 10% of its day lit side. The Earth is the only close object to it that can illuminate it’s night side, and that might be visible this morning as Earth shine. For the Moon the Earth is 90% illuminated by the Sun, exactly opposite its phase to us. It’s area in the Moon’s sky is 16 times the Moon’s area in our sky. On top of that the Earth is much more reflective than the Moon, which is dirty gray. So Earth light in the Moon is much brighter than moonlight on the Earth.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter, the Moon, and the star Spica at 6:30 this morning, November 25, 2016. The Moon is shown twice actual size. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon with Earth shine with a confluence of planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mars) on June 15, 1991). Credit Bob Moler.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 