Archive
01/06/2016 – Ephemeris – The bright planet action is in the morning
Jan 6. This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 6th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 5:17. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 5:46 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. Mercury is now too close to the Sun in the evening sky, and is only 8 days from inferior conjunction with the Sun. The next inferior conjunction after this, May 9th Mercury will pass in front of the Sun. In the morning sky there are four bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, actually at 10:56 p.m., in the east. Mars will rise next at 2:20 a.m. also in the east-southeast. It’s left of the bright star Spica. Venus will rise at 5:30 a.m. also in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise at 5:47 a.m. following Venus. Comet Catalina is a binocular object about a third of the way from the bright star Arcturus, and the star at the end of the handle of the Big Dipper named Alkaid.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Here of the morning planets. From right to left, Jupiter, Mars and the traffic jam of Venus, Saturn and the Moon. Time: 7 a.m., January 7, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
The planets to, mostly, the same scale of apparent sizes. Venus is the size of the small gibbous center of the overexposed glow. Mars is smaller than it’s image, about half the size of Venus. Created using Stellarium.
Comet Catalina’s path for the next week. Note the magnitudes for the comet are about 1 magnitude too bright. It will take binoculars or a small telescope to spot the comet which will not show a tail visually. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for January 6, 2016 showing the location of the planets, the Moon and Comet Catalina at that time. Created using my LookingUp program.
Several of the images above are shown smaller than actual size. Image expansion lately hasn’t worked. If you are using Firefox, right-click on the image, and then click on View Image.
01/05/2016 – Ephemeris – The crescent moon is passing the morning planets
Ephemeris for Tuesday, January 5th. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 5:16. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:48 tomorrow morning.
This morning the crescent Moon will be in the morning sky about half way between Venus below and Mars above. Reddish Mars is to the left of the bright blue-white star Spica nearly in the south at 7 a.m. Jupiter is way high in the south-southwest by then. Venus is approaching Saturn, and they will apparently cross paths this Saturday. By tomorrow morning the Moon will be much closer to Venus, with our Morning Star about 5 degrees, or 10 Moon diameters below and left of the thin crescent Moon, which should be exhibiting earthshine by then. By Thursday the Moon will be about the same distance to the left of Venus. The line that can be drawn through planets, along the Zodiac, is lying down as the Sun is slowly heading northward.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The travels of the crescent Moon by Venus and Saturn. Positions shown for 7 a.m. on consecutive mornings: January 5-7, 2016. The moon is shown twice its size for clarity. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
12/30/2015 – Ephemeris – Last look at the bright planets for this year
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 30th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:10. The Moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:58 this evening.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. Mercury moved to its greatest separation from the Sun Monday night. It will be visible very low in the southwest before it sets at 6:42 p.m. in the west-southwest. In the morning sky there are four bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, actually at 11:23 p.m., in the east. Tomorrow it will be just left of the Moon. Mars will rise next at 2:27 a.m. also in the east. It’s left of the bright star Spica. Venus will rise at 5:11 a.m. in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise at 6:10 a.m. in the east-southeast. Comet Catalina is a binocular object just below the bright star Arcturus, which is pointed to by the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury at 6 p.m., 50 minutes after sunset, December 30, 2015. It may be visible as early as 5:30. Binoculars will help. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn, plus Comet Catalina at 7 a.m. December 31, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon tomorrow morning December 31, 2015 at 7 a.m. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter at 7 a.m. December 31, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus at 7 a.m. December 31, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Saturn at 7 a.m. December 31, 2015. The satellites would be pretty much invisible except for Titan with Saturn low in the sky in twilight. Created using Stellarium.
The three planet telescopic views are shown to the same scale, that is seen with the same magnification.
Comet Catalina’s path for the next week. Note the magnitudes for the comet are about 1 magnitude too bright. It will take binoculars or a small telescope to spot the comet which will not show a tail visually. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts)..
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for December 30, 2015 showing the location of the planets, the Moon and Comet Catalina at that time. Created using my LookingUp program.
Several of the images above are shown smaller than actual size. Image expansion lately hasn’t worked. If you are using Firefox, right-click on the image, and then click on View Image.
12/23/2015 – Ephemeris – Only Mercury is making a stand in the evening sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 23rd. The Sun will rise at 8:17. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:05. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 7:04 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. Mercury is becoming marginally visible very low in the southwest before it sets at 6:24 p.m. in the west-southwest. In the morning sky there are four bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, actually at 11:49 p.m., in the east. Mars will rise next at 2:33 a.m. also in the east, Venus will rise at 5 a.m. in the east-southeast. Even as Venus and Jupiter separate Mars still lies almost halfway between the two. Don’t confuse Mars with the star Spica which is brighter and below right of it. Saturn will rise at 6:30 a.m. in the east-southeast. Comet Catalina is a binocular object about three widths of a fist held at arm’s length directly above Venus at 6 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury at 6 p.m., 55 minutes after sunset, December 23, 2015. It may be visible as early as 5:30. Binoculars will help. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn, plus Comet Catalina at 7 a.m. December 24, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Jupiter at 7 a.m. December 24, 2015. Note Europa is in transit of Jupiter at that time and would pretty much be invisible. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Venus at 7 a.m. December 24, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Telescopic view of Saturn at 7 a.m. December 24, 2015. The satellites would be pretty much invisible in the twilight. Created using Stellarium.
Note that the planets shown as they would be seen in telescopes at the same magnification.
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for December 23, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program.
A note on enlarging the pictures: Apparently WordPress is not able to enlarge pictures by clicking on them. However if you are using Firefox and you right-click on an image, select View Image to show the image up to full size.
12/16/2015 – Ephemeris – The planet action is still in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 16th. The Sun will rise at 8:13. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:57 this evening.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. Mercury is becoming marginally visible very low in the southwest before it sets at 6 p.m. In the morning sky there are three bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, at 12:15 a.m. in the east. Mars will rise next at 2:39 a.m. also in the east, followed by Venus at 4:41 a.m. in the east-southeast. Mars lies in line between Venus below and Jupiter above, almost halfway between the two. Don’t confuse Mars with the star Spica which is brighter and right below it. Saturn will rise at 6:54 a.m. in the east-southeast. Comet Catalina is a telescopic object about one and a half the width of a fist held at arm’s length above Venus and the same amount left of Mars.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The moon as it might look in binoculars at 8 p.m., December 16, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The Morning planets at 7 a.m., December 17, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and moons in a telescope at 7 a.m. December 17, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as seen in a telescope as seen at the same magnification as Jupiter above, at 7 a,m. December 17, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Comet Catalina and Mars for the next week. Note the magnitudes for the comet are about 1 magnitude too bright. It will take binoculars or a small telescope to spot the comet which will not show a tail visually. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for December 16, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.
11/18/2015 – Ephemeris – The planet action is in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 18th. The Sun will rise at 7:43. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 5:12. The Moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 11:57 this evening.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. Saturn is about to depart the evening sky. It’s too close to the direction of the Sun to spot. Mercury passed behind the Sun yesterday and is entering the evening sky. In the morning sky there are three bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, at 1:50 a.m. in the east-northeast. Mars will rise next at 3:04 a.m. in the east, followed by Venus at 3:45 a.m. also in the east. Mars lies in line between Venus below and Jupiter above, a bit more than a third the way from Venus to Jupiter. These three planets will continue to pull apart. Nearly in line with the planets are the bright stars Regulus to the upper right and Spica to the lower left.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury passed behind the Sun in a superior conjunction yesterday the 17th. The Sun actually occulted Mercury, though that couldn’t be seen. Below is a SOHO LASCO C2 coronagraph GIF animation from the 14th to the 17th showing Mercury entering on the right and disappearing behind the disk that hides the Sun’s photosphere. The white circle in the center shows the position and size of the Sun. The plane of Mercury’s orbit crosses the plane of the Earth’s orbit where the Earth is in early November and again 6 months later in early May. It happens that next May 9th Mercury will pass in front of the Sun, an event called a transit, that will be visible here. It will start at 7:13 a.m. (11:13 UT) and end at 2:44 p.m. (18:44 UT). Transits of Mercury are not as spectacular or as rare as those of Venus. I’ll have more on the transit when the date draws close.
A GIF animation from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory LASCO C2 coronagraph for November 14th to the 17th. Mercury will enter from the right. Credit ESA/NASA – LASCO/NRL SOHO team.
Jupiter, Mars and Venus appear in the southeast at 6 a.m., November 19, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons in a telescope at 6 a.m., November 19, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as seen in a telescope at 6 a.m. November 19, 2015. This is at the same scale as the Jupiter image above. Created using Stellarium.
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for November 18, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.
11/11/2015 – Ephemeris – The bright planets separate in the morning sky
Ephemeris for Veteran’s Day, Wednesday, November 11th. The Sun will rise at 7:34. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 45 minutes, setting at 5:19. The Moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. The numbers of visible planets is getting a bit thin. The planet Saturn will be low in the west-southwest after sunset and will set at 6:16 p.m., less than an hour after sunset. It would be as harder to find than Mercury would be at its best in the evening sky. And Mercury itself is too close to the direction of the Sun to be spotted. However in the morning sky there are three bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, at 2:12 a.m. in the east-northeast. Mars will rise at 3:20 a.m., followed by Venus at 3:31 a.m. Mars lies in line between Venus below and Jupiter above, a bit less than a third the way from Venus to Jupiter. These three planets will continue to separate.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn can no longer be shown at a reasonable altitude with Stellarium.
Jupiter, Mars and Venus appear in the southeast at 6 a.m., November 11, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and its moons in a telescope at 6 a.m., November 12, 2015. Ganymede enters into Jupiter’s shadow at 5:30 a.m. Created using Stellarium.
Venus as seen in a telescope at 6 a.m. November 12, 2015. This is not to the same scale as the Jupiter image above. Created using Stellarium.
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for November 11, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.
11/04/2015 – Ephemeris – Most of the bright planet action is in the morning
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 4th. The Sun will rise at 7:24. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 5:27. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:25 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. The numbers of visible planets is getting a bit thin. The planet Saturn will be low in the west-southwest after sunset and will set at 6:41 p.m. It would be as hard to find as Mercury would be at its best in the evening sky. And Mercury itself is too close to the direction of the Sun to be spotted. However in the morning sky there are three bright planets. Jupiter will be the first to rise, at 2:34 a.m. in the east-northeast. Mars and Venus will rise within 5 minutes of each outer by 3:20 a.m. Mars will be almost directly above Venus by a degree or two Moon diameters. Friday and Saturday mornings the Moon will appear near these planets.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn’s pretty low to the horizon at 6:15 p.m. November 4, 2015. Created using Stellarium. Click on image to enlarge.
Mars is still close to Venus with Jupiter nearby in the southeast at 6 a.m. November 5, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for November 4, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.
10/28/2015 – Ephemeris – The bright planets are gathered near the Sun in the evening and morning sky
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 28th. The Sun will rise at 8:15. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 22 minutes, setting at 6:37. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 7:52 this evening.
Let’s check out the whereabouts of the bright naked eye planets. The numbers of visible planets is getting a bit thin. The planet Saturn will be low in the west-southwest after sunset and will set at 8:06 p.m. It will be hard to find in evening twilight. In the morning sky the brilliant planet Venus will rise at 4:11 tomorrow morning. Jupiter will beat it above the horizon, rising at 3:33. Both will be quite high in the southeast by this program’s air time today. Jupiter will be just above Venus today and tomorrow morning. Mars will be below and to the left of these two. Mars will pass north of Venus next Tuesday. That will be a real contrast in brightness with Mars much fainter than Venus. Mercury has retreated back toward the Sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn’s’ getting low in the twilight at 7:30 p.m. October 28, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Venus with Jupiter 3 degrees above, with Mars below in the east-southeast at 7 a.m. October 29, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
Apparent sizes of the morning planets Venus, Mars and Jupiter as seen through a telescope on October 29, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for October 28, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.
10/21/2015 – Ephemeris – The bright planets and an anniversary star party
Update 5:05 p.m.:
The star party at the Sleeping Bear Dunes has been canceled due to clouds.
Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 21st. The Sun will rise at 8:05. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 42 minutes, setting at 6:48. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 2:00 tomorrow morning.
We’ve got a busy day. The planet Saturn will be low in the west-southwest after sunset and will set at 8:31 p.m. In the morning sky the brilliant planet Venus will rise at 4:05 and be quite high at this program’s air time. Jupiter will be just below and left of it. Mars will be below and left of Jupiter by a similar amount. Both rise within 20 minutes of Venus. Far below and left will be Mercury which will rise at 6:38. Tonight is the last star party of the year at the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. This is the lakeshore’s 45th anniversary. It will held starting at 8 p.m. at Pierce Stocking Drive Stop #3 the Dunes Overlook if it’s clear, Park at Picnic Mountain. The Moon will be the big attraction tonight. The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society has been holding star parties at the Sleeping Bear Dunes since the park’s 40th anniversary in 2010.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and the Moon (at twice normal size) at 7:30 p.m. October 21, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
The telescopic Moon tonight, October 21, 2015, for the star party at Sleeping Bear Dunes. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.
The morning planets at 7 a.m., October 22, 2015. Created using Stellarium.
This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for October 21, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. The charts are rotated 90 degrees to more clearly show the traffic jam of the morning planets. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.
