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Ephemeris: 10/17/2025 – Fomalhaut, lonely again
This is Ephemeris for Friday, October 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 6:54, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:02. The Moon, halfway from last quarter to new, will rise at 5:04 tomorrow morning.
There’s a bright star that appears for only seven and a half hours on autumn evenings. Its appearance, low in the south in the evening, is a clear indication of autumn. It is currently below and right of the much brighter Saturn. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. That’s fitting because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s kind of the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut is low in our skies where stars lose more than half their brightness. For the last few years Jupiter, then Saturn have kept it company. However, Saturn is moving on, having shifted into Pisces, leaving Fomalhaut to its lonely vigil in the south.
The astronomical event times given in this blog are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (Lat 44.7° N, Long 85.7° W; EDT, UT – 4 hours) unless stated otherwise. Times will be different for other locations.
Addendum
Ephemeris: 10/19/2023 – The southern star of autumn – Fomalhaut
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Thursday, October 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 6:51, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:04. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 9:39 this evening.
There’s a bright star that appears for only seven and a half hours on autumn evenings. Its appearance, low in the south-southeast at 9 p.m., is a clear indication of the autumn season. It is currently below the much brighter Saturn. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. That’s fitting because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s kind of the fish that got away, because usually Fomalhaut appears to be quite alone low in the sky. For the last few years Jupiter and then Saturn have kept it company. In a couple of years Saturn will have moved on leaving Fomalhaut to its lonely vigil in the south.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
11/24/2017 – Ephemeris – Fomalhaut, the loneliest star, has a little buddy
Ephemeris for Friday, November 24th. The Sun will rise at 7:51. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 5:07. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:30 this evening.
The lonely bright star low in the south at 8 p.m. these evenings is Fomalhaut the harbinger of autumn in my book, and about to leave as winter approaches. Fomalhaut means fishes mouth and is located at the head of Piscis Austrinus, a very dim constellation. Fomalhaut is a young white star only about 400 million years old with a disk of dust surrounding it. Near an outer dust ring, 15 years ago the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a spot. Four years later astronomers discovered that the spot moved along the dust lane and announced the first direct discovery of an exoplanet. In 2010 and 2012 the planet now dubbed Fomalhaut b or Dagon was observed again and it really does orbit Fomalhaut in a very eccentric orbit.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Fomalhaut in the south at 8 p.m. on November evenings. Created using Stellarium.
Fomalhaut b and it’s path around its star. Credit: NASA, ESA, and P. Kalas (University of California, Berkeley and SETI Institute)
12/05/2016 – Ephemeris – The planet’s name is Dagon
Ephemeris for Monday, December 5th. The Sun will rise at 8:04. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 11:02 this evening.
The lonely bright star low in the south-southwest at 8 p.m. these evenings is Fomalhaut the harbinger of autumn in my book, and about to leave as winter approaches. Fomalhaut means fishes mouth and is located at the head of Piscis Austrinus, a very dim constellation. Fomalhaut is a young white star only about 400 million years old with a disk of dust surrounding it. Near an outer dust ring, 14 years ago the Hubble Space Telescope discovered a spot. Four years later astronomers discovered that the spot moved along the dust lane and announced the first direct discovery of an exoplanet. In 2010 and 2012 the planet now dubbed Fomalhaut b or Dagon was observed again and it really does orbit Fomalhaut in a very eccentric orbit.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The track of observations of Fomalhaut b or Dagon in 2004, 2006, 2010 and 2012. Credit: NASA and ESA.
10/24/2016 – Ephemeris – Fomalhaut, the loneliest star in the sky
Ephemeris for Monday, October 24th. The Sun will rise at 8:10. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 6:42. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 3:01 tomorrow morning.
There’s a bright star that appears for only seven and a half hours on autumn evenings. It’s appearance, low in the south at 10 p.m., is a clear indication of the autumn season. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. That’s fitting because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s kind of the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut appears to be quite alone low in the sky. The dimness of the constellation’s other stars and location close to the horizon make the faint stars hard to spot. The earth’s thick atmosphere near the horizon reduces their brightness by a factor of two or more, so Fomalhaut, one of the brightest stars in the sky, keeps a lonely vigil in the south.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Aquarius and Fomalhaut as visualized by Stellarium.
10/05/2015 – Ephemeris – The loneliest star
Ephemeris for Monday, October 5th. The Sun will rise at 7:45. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 7:16. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:38 tomorrow morning.
There’s a bright and lonely star that appears low in the south for only seven and a half hours a night on autumn evenings. It’s appearance is a sign as sure as the falling leaves that autumn is here At 10 p.m. tonight it’s low in the south-southeast. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. This is appropriate because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut appears to be quite alone. The dimness of the constellation’s other stars and location close to the horizon make the fainter stars hard to spot. The earth’s thick atmosphere near the horizon reduces the stars brightness by a factor of two or more, so Fomalhaut appears to keep a lonely vigil in the south.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Fomalhaut appears quite alone in the south-southeast at about 10 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Actually Fomalhaut isn’t all that alone, It apparently has a companion planet.
Fomalhaut b and it’s path around its star. Credit: NASA, ESA, and P. Kalas (University of California, Berkeley and SETI Institute)
10/14/2014 – Ephemeris – The loneliest star
Ephemeris for Tuesday, October 14th. The sun will rise at 7:56. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 6:59. The moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:57 this evening.
There’s a bright star that appears for only seven and a half hours a night on autumn evenings. It’s appearance, low in the south, is a clear indication of the autumn season. At 9 p.m. tonight it’s low in the southeast. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. That fits because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut appears to be the loneliest star in the sky. The dimness of the constellation’s other stars and location close to the horizon make the fainter stars hard to spot. They would be overhead in Australia. The earth’s thick atmosphere near the horizon reduces the stars brightness by a factor of two or more.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Fomalhaut appears quite alone in the south-southeast at 10 p.m. October 14, 2014. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
10/17/2013 – Ephemeris – The lonely star
Ephemeris for Thursday, October 17th. The sun will rise at 8:00. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 6:54. The moon, 1 day before full, will set at 7:37 tomorrow morning.
There’s a bright star that appears for only seven and a half hours on autumn evenings. It’s appearance, low in the southeast at 10 p.m., is a clear indication of the autumn season. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. That’s fitting because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s kind of the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut appears to be quite alone low in the sky. The dimness of the constellation’s other stars and location close to the horizon make the faint stars hard to spot. The earth’s thick atmosphere near the horizon reduces their brightness by a factor of two or more, so Fomalhaut, one of the brightest stars in the sky, keeps a lonely vigil in the south.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The bright star Fomalhaut all alone at 9 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
10/04/2012 – Ephemeris – The lonely autumn star Fomalhaut
Ephemeris for Thursday, October 4th. The sun will rise at 7:44. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 7:16. The moon, 4 days before last quarter, will rise at 9:40 this evening.
There’s a bright star that appears for only seven and a half hours on autumn evenings. It’s appearance, low in the southeast at 10 p.m., is a clear indication of the autumn season. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. That’s fitting because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s kind of the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut appears to be quite alone low in the sky. The dimness of the constellation’s other stars and location close to the horizon make the faint stars hard to spot. The earth’s thick atmosphere near the horizon reduces their brightness by a factor of two or more, so Fomalhaut, one of the brightest stars in the sky, keeps a lonely vigil in the south.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The bright star Fomalhaut all alone at 10 p.m. on October 4, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Click image to enlarge.
10/25/11 – Ephemeris – The lonely star Fomalhaut
Tuesday, October 25th. The sun will rise at 8:10. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 6:42. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:02 tomorrow morning
There’s a bright and lonely star that appears low in the south for only seven and a half hours a night on autumn evenings. It’s appearance is a sign as sure as the falling leaves that autumn is here At 9 p.m. tonight it’s low in the south southeast. The star’s name is Fomalhaut, which means fish’s mouth. This is appropriate because it’s in the constellation of Piscis Austrinus, the southern fish. At our latitude it’s the fish that got away, because Fomalhaut appears to be quite alone. The dimness of the constellation’s other stars and location close to the horizon make the fainter stars hard to spot. They would be overhead in Australia. The earth’s thick atmosphere near the horizon reduces the stars brightness by a factor of two or more, so Fomalhaut appears to keep a lonely vigil in the south.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Aquarius and Fomalhaut as visualized by Stellarium
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 