Archive
10/18/2017 – Ephemeris – Our weekly look at the naked eye planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 18th. The Sun will rise at 8:01. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 6:52. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:39 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter, for all intents and purposes is gone from the evening sky. It will cross into the morning sky next week Thursday. Saturn too is sinking lower in the southwestern sky in the evening. Saturn’s rings are still spectacular in telescopes, but since Saturn is so low in the sky the turbulence of the thick atmosphere makes Saturn fuzzy and seemingly to go in and out of focus. Saturn will set at 9:52 p.m.
Tomorrow in the morning sky, Mars, heading away from the Sun will rise in the east at 5:33 a.m., Venus, is heading closer to the Sun, will rise at 6:16 in the east. Mercury has moved into the evening sky 10 days ago, but will not be easily visible even at its greatest elongation a month from now.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and the constellations of the evening tonight at 8:00 p.m., October 18, 2017. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons on the evening of October 18, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Mars and Venus at 7 a.m. October 19, 2017. Create using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 18, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 19th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
10/11/2017 – Ephemeris – Lets find the bright planets tonight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 11th. The Sun will rise at 7:53. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 7:04. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:59 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter, for all intents and purposes is gone from the evening sky. It will cross into the morning sky later this month. Saturn too is sinking lower in the southwestern sky in the evening. Saturn’s rings are still spectacular in telescopes, but since Saturn is so low in the sky the turbulence of the thick atmosphere makes Saturn fuzzy and seemingly to go in and out of focus. Saturn will set at 10:17 p.m. In the morning sky, Mars will rise in the east at 5:38 a.m., ahead of Venus. In the week since their conjunction Mars has gained 20 minutes on Venus, which will rise at 5:58 in the east. Mars is less than 100th the brightness of Venus, so catch it early, before twilight overpowers it..
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and the constellations of the evening tonight at 8:30 p.m., October 11, 2017. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight October 11/12, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Venus, Mars and the Moon at 7 a.m. October 12, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars, 7 a.m. October 12, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 11, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 12th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
10/04/2017 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets tonight?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 4th. The Sun will rise at 7:44. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 7:17. The Moon, 1 day before full, will set at 7:21 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter, for all intents and purposes is gone from the evening sky. It will cross into the morning sky later this month. Saturn too is sinking lower in the southwestern sky in the evening. Saturn’s rings are still spectacular in telescopes, but since Saturn is so low in the sky the turbulence of the thick atmosphere makes Saturn fuzzy and seemingly to go in and out of focus. Saturn will set at 10:43 p.m.
In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 5:11 a.m. in the east with much dimmer Mars below and right of it by half the width of the Moon. Mars is less than 100th the brightness of Venus, and will probably require binoculars to locate. (need a few words more)
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and the Moon in the evening at 8 p.m. October 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight October 4/5, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars, 8 p.m. October 4, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Members of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society and I are invited to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival being held for the Chinese exchange students in the Traverse City school system. Its held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunar calendar, the full moon, which works out to be October 4th this year. They will be having Chinese food and viewing the Moon afterward.
One of the legends celebrated then will be the Jade Rabbit pounding medicine. Jade Rabbit (Yutu) is the name of the Chinese rover that’s on the Moon. And the Jade Rabbit can actually be seen on the Moon:
Jade Rabbit and Mortar on the Moon. Credit: Zeimusu, Creative Commons.
I hope they have Moon Cakes. They sound yummy.
A closeup of Venus and Mars at 6:30 a.m. October 5, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 4, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 5th. The full Moon has fallen in the cracks between the sunset and sunrise charts due to its position south of the ecliptic. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/27/2017 – Ephemeris – Where are the naked eye planets tonight
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 27th. The Sun will rise at 7:35. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 7:29. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 12:16 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is really low in the west-southwest after sunset setting in bright twilight at 8:22 p.m. Saturn can be seen low in the southwest tonight. The reddish star Antares is below and right of Saturn before it sets at 9:50 p.m. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes. With the demise of the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn for the last 13 years, there is no telescope closer to Saturn than yours. The planet will set at 11:09 p.m. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 5:23 a.m. in the east-northeast. Much dimmer Mars will rise in the east-northeast at 5:46 a.m. Mars will brighten greatly as it approaches us in the next 10 months. Mercury is too close to the glare of the Sun to be spotted.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and the Moon tonight at 9 p.m., September 27, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight September 27/28, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars, 9 p.m. September 27, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Mars close up at 6:30 a.m. September 27, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 27, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 28th. I’ve rotated the sunrise plot so the planet labels wouldn’t overlap. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/20/2017 – Ephemeris – Looking for the bright planets
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 20th. The Sun will rise at 7:27. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 7:43. The Moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is really low in the west-southwest after sunset setting in twilight at 8:47 p.m. Saturn can be seen low in the southwest tonight. The reddish star Antares is below and right of Saturn before it sets at 10:18 p.m. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes. With the demise of the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn for the last 13 years, there is no telescope closer to Saturn than yours. The planet will set at 11:35 p.m. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 5:03 a.m. in the east-northeast. The first magnitude star Regulus in Leo the lion will be to the upper right of it. Dim Mars will rise in the east-northeast at 5:50 a.m. followed by the brighter Mercury which will rise at 6:12 a.m.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The setting Jupiter and Saturn at 8:15 p.m., September 20, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
Saturn and constellations in dark skies at 9 p.m. September 20, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight September 20/21, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Morning planets close up at 6:30 a.m. September 21, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 20, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/13/2017 – Ephemeris – Looking for the bright planets this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 13th. The Sun will rise at 7:19. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 7:56. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 1:05 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is sinking really low in the west-southwest setting before the end of twilight. Jupiter will set at 9:11 p.m. Saturn can be seen moving from the south-southwest to the southwest tonight. The reddish star Antares is below and right of Saturn. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes. The planet will set at midnight. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 4:48 a.m. Mercury will rise at 5:46 and Mars will rise at 5:54 a.m.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The setting Jupiter and Saturn at 8:30 p.m., September 13, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on image to enlarge.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight September 13/14, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets in the morning sky at 6:30 a.m. September 14, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to enlarge.
Morning planets close up at 6:30 a.m. September 14, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
The fat crescent Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 6:30 a.m. September 14, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 13, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
09/06/2017 – Ephemeris – A look at the bright planets known from antiquity
Wednesday, September 6th. The Sun will rise at 7:11. It’ll be up for 12 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 8:09. The Moon, at full today, will rise at 8:38 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is sinking really low in the west-southwest setting before the end of twilight. The bright blue-white star Spica, which pales in comparison to Jupiter, is seen below it dimly in the twilight. It will pass north of Spica on September 11th. Jupiter will set at 9:36 p.m. Saturn can be seen moving from the south-southwest to the southwest tonight. The reddish star Antares is below and right of Saturn. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes. The planet will set at 12:29 a.m. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 4:31 a.m. and be visible until about 6:45 tomorrow morning. Mars and Mercury follow Venus up in the east rising just before 6 a.m.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The setting Jupiter and Saturn near the Moon at 9 p.m., September 6, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on image to enlarge.
The moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 10 p.m.. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight September 6/7, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Venus with Mercury and Mars at 6:30 a.m. September 7, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
A 3 day animation od Mercury, te star Regulus and Mars starting September 7, 2017 at 6:30 a.m. Created using Stellarium and GIMP. Click on image to enlarge.
On Friday I’ll have an animation that will take these planets further.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on September 6, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 7th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/30/2017 – Ephemeris – Checking upon the bright planets for this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 30th. The Sun will rise at 7:02. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 8:22. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:38 tomorrow morning.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is sinking really low in the west-southwest setting before the end of twilight. The bright blue-white star Spica, which pales in comparison to Jupiter, is seen below and left of it. Jupiter is moving eastward towards Spica now. It will pass north of Spica on September 11th. Jupiter will set at 10 p.m. Saturn can be seen tonight below, right of the Moon in the southern sky. The reddish star Antares is off to the right of Saturn. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes. The planet will set at 12:56 a.m. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 4:15 a.m. and be visible until about 6:45 tomorrow morning. Mars and Mercury are now too close to the Sun for us to spot.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The setting Jupiter and Saturn near the Moon at 9 p.m., August 30, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on image to enlarge.
The Moon and Saturn at 9 p.m. August 30, 2017. Create using Stellarium.
Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 9 p.m., August 30, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and its brightest moons overnight August 30/31, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Venus at 6 a.m. August 31, 2017. Created using Stellarium.
Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 30, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 31. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/25/2017 – Ephemeris – Last Friday Night Live of the year
Ephemeris for Friday, August 25th. The Sun rises at 6:57. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 8:30. The Moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 10:46 this evening.
The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be at Friday Night Live on Front Street this evening after 5:30 p.m. Members will be showing the Sun if it’s clear, and early, maybe a peek at the Moon in the day time sky. Also if it’s clear after Friday Night Live is over the telescopes will be pulled back on the sidewalk to view Saturn and its fabulous rings. Tonight’s Friday night Live appearance by the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be the 32nd event hosted or attended this year. Everyone is welcome free of charge to the society’s meetings at Northwestern Michigan College’s Joseph H. Rogers Observatory on the first Friday of the month at 8 p.m., before one of the monthly star parties.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Viewing the Sun with a while light filter at Friday Night Live using Ron Uthe’s telescope at Friday Night Live. Credit Bob Moler.
Passers by look at the Moon through Gary Carlisle’s telescope at a 2013 Friday Night Live. Credit mine.
08/23/2017 – Ephemeris – Our weekly check on the bright planets
Wednesday, August 23rd. The Sun rises at 6:54. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 8:34. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 9:48 this evening.
Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is sinking really low in the west-southwest as it gets dark in the evening. The bright blue-white star Spica, which pales in comparison to Jupiter, is seen left of it. Jupiter is moving eastward towards Spica now. It will pass north of Spica on September 11th. Jupiter will set at 10:25 p.m. Saturn can now be seen in the south-southwest as evening twilight fades. The reddish star Antares is off to the right of Saturn. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes, and it will set at 1:24 a.m. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 4:01 a.m. and be visible until about 6:15 tomorrow morning. Mars and Mercury are now too close to the Sun for us to spot.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 