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12/19/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 19th. The sun will rise at 8:15. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:04. The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:48 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. It will set at 7:04 p.m. The same as last week because sunrise times are increasing and Mars is starting to move northward. The sun will eventually catch up with it. Even before you can spot Mars, bright Jupiter will be visible in the east. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus in the southeast in the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 11:15 p.m, and will set at 6:47 a.m. Jupiter is a wonderful sight in telescopes with its cloud bands and its moons which change positions each night. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 4 a.m. in the east southeast. It’s located in eastern Virgo. Venus will rise at 6:20 and is below and left of Saturn.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and the winter stars in the east southeast at 9 p.m. December 19, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn, Venus and the star Spica low in the east southeast at 6:45 a.m., December 20, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
12/12/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 12th. The sun will rise at 8:10. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:18 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. It will set at 7:04 p.m. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus on the southeast in the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 11:47 p.m, and will set at 7:19 a.m. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 4:24 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 6:02 and is below and left of Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:36 a.m. Below and left of Venus. A half an hour later it should be high enough to spot. The three planets will appear in a straight line and nearly equally spaced. After a few days Mercury will not be visible again until next February.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on December 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the winter stars at 9 p.m. December 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with its Great Red Spot November 18, 2012 by Scott Anttila.
Jupiter with Callisto above, Ganymede and its shadow below on December 6, 2012 by Scott Anttila, Click to enlarge.
Saturn, Venus and Mercury at 6:45 a.m. ay December 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
12/10/2012 – Ephemeris – Saturn will be above the moon this morning.
Ephemeris for Monday, December 10th. The sun will rise at 8:08. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 6:01 tomorrow morning.
This morning, if it’s clear look eastward at the moon and planets. The planet just above the moon is the planet Saturn. Farther below and to the left is the brilliant planet Venus. Those with good eyesight or binoculars might spot tiny Mercury. In the morning we get a preview in the stars of a season or two ahead from what we see in the evening. Orion, which is rising in the east in the early evening is seen setting in the west at 7 in the morning. The spring stars are now reigning in the morning sky, and a few summer are peeking above the eastern horizon, pretty much drowned out by the morning twilight. Next spring Saturn will be little moved from its current position, It takes it a bit less than 30 years to orbit the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and the moon low in the southeast at 6:30 a.m. on December 10, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Tomorrow morning the moon will pass below Venus. See this animation below.
Mercury animation from December 4 to thru 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium
12/05/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are all the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 5th. The sun will rise at 8:04. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 12:03 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. All 5 classical planets are visible now. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars will set at 7:05. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus on the southeast in the evening. It will transit or pass due south at 12:18 a.m, and will set at 7:51. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 4:48 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 5:44 and is below and left of Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:16 a.m. Below and left of Venus. A half an hour later it should be high enough to spot . The three planets will appear in a straight line and nearly equally spaced. After about a week, Mercury will not be visible again until next spring.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on December 5, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the winter stars at 9 p.m. on December 5, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Mercury animation from December 4 to thru 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium
12/04/2012 – Ephemeris – Mercury in the morning
Ephemeris for Tuesday, December 4th. The sun will rise at 8:02. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 5:02. The moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 10:59 this evening.
The planet Mercury has joined the morning planets for a week or so. Mercury can be best spotted low in the east southeast starting about 7 a.m. It will be below and slightly left of Venus, the brightest planet, about the same distance below as Saturn is above Venus. They’re just about in straight line. Binoculars will help in the search. Once found Mercury may be tracked past 7:30. Mercury will be visible for about a week as become somewhat brighter as it does. That’s because Mercury’s phase at its half illuminated today at its greatest elongation from the sun. It will be becoming more and more full as it moves around the sun mostly away from us now. Mercury is a prise, few people have ever seen it.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mercury animation starting December 4, 2012. Created using Stellarium
Note the passage of the moon on the mornings of the 10th and 11th. The moon will actually be a thin crescent.
11/28/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 28th. The sun will rise at 7:56. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 5:04. The moon, at full today, will rise at 5:18 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. First there will be a penumbral eclipse of the moon this morning which we will not be able see. Penumbral eclipses are not very noticeable. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars will set at 7:07. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 5:16 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. Tonight it will appear right above the moon. It will transit or pass due south at 12:49 a.m. Jupiter will reach opposition from the sun this Saturday December 1st, and will officially be part of the evening sky. Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 5:15 a.m. in the east southeast. Venus will rise at 5:23 and is almost directly below Saturn. Mercury will rise at 6:13 and will be seen below and left of Venus.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on November 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and the Moon at 6:15 p.m. low in the east northeast on November 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn, Venus and Mercury low in the east southeast at 6:30 a.m. November 29, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
11/26/2012 – Ephemeris – Saturn and Venus pass in the morning twilight
Ephemeris for Monday, November 26th. The sun will rise at 7:53. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 11 minutes, setting at 5:05. The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:58 tomorrow morning.
This morning the planet Saturn will appear to the left of the much brighter Venus. By tomorrow morning Venus will be below Saturn. Both are moving eastward against the stars, but Venus being closer is moving faster. Venus is moving around and behind the sun from our vantage point. On March 28th next year it will pass behind the sun and will enter the evening sky. Saturn will increase its apparent distance from the sun and will be visible in the evening in late spring. Saturn is perhaps everyone’s favorite planets due to its spectacular rings that can be spotted in just about any telescope. This and next year the rings will be open to nearly their widest extent. Still orbiting Saturn the Cassini spacecraft is going strong.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Venus and Saturn on the mornings of November 26 & 27, 2012 at 6:30 a.m. Created using Stellarium.
The long pause is on the 27th.
11/21/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 21st. The sun will rise at 7:47. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 5:09. The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:55 tomorrow morning.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars, being the nearest planet outside the earth’s orbit takes its own sweet time leaving the evening sky. Mars will set at 7:10. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 5:47 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 1:25 a.m. The morning planet Venus is the next planet to rise at 5:08 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now near the bright star Spica in the constellation of Virgo. Saturn can now be seen after it rises in the east southeast at 5:35 a.m. as twilight brightens. It’s approaching Venus from the lower left.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. November 21, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter with the rising winter constellation is the east at 9 p.m. November 21, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Saturn low in the east southeast at 6:30 a.m. November 22, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
11/14/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are he bright planets this week.
Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 14th. The sun will rise at 7:38. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 5:15. The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 6:01 this evening.
Let’s check out the planets for this week. At 6:15 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest. Mars, being the nearest planet outside the earth’s orbit takes its own sweet time leaving the evening sky. Mars will set at 7:14. The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 6:18 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. It will transit or pass due south at 1:52 a.m. The morning planet Venus is the next planet to rise at 4:50 a.m. also in the east. Venus is now near the bright star Spica in the constellation of Virgo. Saturn can now be seen after it rises in the east south east at 5:58 a.m. as twilight brightens. It will be easier to spot next week.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on November 14, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter low in the east at 8 p.m. on November 14, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Saturn at 6:30 a.m. on November 15, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
09/26/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week
Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 26th. The sun will rise at 7:34. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 7:31. The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 5:00 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week. Mars and Saturn now set too close to the sun to be easily seen in the evening sky. Both are in the west southwestern sky and very low in twilight. Saturn sets at 8:36 p.m., while Mars sets at 9:21. The planetary action moves to later in the evening and the morning. Jupiter, will rise at 10:40 p.m. in the east northeast. It is located in the constellation of Taurus. The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 3:56 a.m. also in the east northeast. Venus is now moving between Cancer and Leo. The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers. You can enjoy them without danger of frost bite.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Saturn low in twilight September 26, 2012 8 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
Note that Mercury has already set.
The winter stars in the morning with Jupiter and Venus on September 27, 2012 at 6 a.m. Created using Stellarium.
