Archive
07/25/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 25th. The sun rises at 6:21. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 9:15. The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 12:17 tomorrow morning.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 11:55 p.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left. Saturn will be in the west southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 12:32 a.m. The moon passed the group last night as is just east of them now. Jupiter will rise at 2:22 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen below Jupiter after it rises at 3:20 a.m. Tomorrow morning, the bright star Aldebaran will appear below and right of Jupiter. Venus is falling off to the lower left of Jupiter as Jupiter moves away from the sun.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars, Saturn and the moon at 10:30 p.m. 07/25/2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus with bright morning stars including those of Orion at 5:30 a.m. on 7/26/2012. Created using Stellarium.
07/18/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 18th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 9:22. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:53 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:15.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 12:14 a.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left. Saturn will be in the southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 12:59 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 2:45 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen just below Jupiter after it rises at 3:31 a.m. Tomorrow morning, the bright star Aldebaran will appear between the two before twilight gets too bright before 5 a.m. All these planets except Mars, which is too small, are great to view in a telescope.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Mars and Saturn in Virgo at 10:30 p.m. on July 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter and Venus at 5 a.m. on July 19, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Venus and Jupiter are noticeably separating.
07/11/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 11th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 9:27. The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:18 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:09.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 12:34 a.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left. Saturn will be in the southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 1:26 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 3:08 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen just below Jupiter after it rises at 3:45 a.m. Tomorrow morning, Venus will appear next to the bright star Aldebaran. The planets are striking in telescopes with Venus as a large thin crescent, and Jupiter with its cloud bands and satellites.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking westward at 10:30 p.m. on July 11, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Click on image to enlarge.
Looking eastward at 5 a.m. on July 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Note Aldebaran near Venus. Aldebaran is the brightest star in the winter constellation Taurus the bull. Note the Pleiades star cluster above Jupiter. Well worth a look with binoculars.
07/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Sun and planet viewing tonight
Ephemeris for Friday, July 6th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 25 minutes, setting at 9:29. The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:06 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:05.
This evening the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will hold its monthly meeting at the Northwestern Michigan College’s Rogers Observatory at 8 p.m. This meeting will be devoted to viewing the sun through the society’s new solar telescope. After that starting at 9 p.m. Will be a star party. For both events, the public is welcome. The tiny planet Mars and the ringed planet Saturn will be visible as will a number of binary stars and brighter wonders of the heavens as the skies darken. Mercury is now receded toward the sun so is not visible. For the rest of the abbreviated planet report this week: A note for early risers that Jupiter and Venus make a fine sight low in the east northeast in the morning after 5 a.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
06/27/12012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Wednesday, June 27th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:40 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:59.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mercury is in the evening sky but very low in the west northwest about 45 minutes after sunset. It will set at 11:04 p.m. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening entering the constellation of Virgo the virgin. Mars will be setting in the west at 1:15 a.m. Saturn will be in the south southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 2:21 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 3:53 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now seen below Jupiter after it rises at 4:23 a.m. [They are striking in telescopes with Venus as a large thin crescent, and Jupiter with its cloud bands and satellites.]
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location. Bracketed text was omitted from the audio program due to time constraints.
Addendum
Mercury, Mars and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. on June 27, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The eastern sky with Jupiter and Venus. at 5:15 a.m. June 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
06/26/2012 – Ephemeris – Saturn’s moon Titan
Ephemeris for Tuesday, June 26th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, at first quarter today, will set at 1:09 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:59.
The planet Saturn appears above the bright blue-white stars Spica now. The moon to the right of then tonight will pass below them Thursday morning. Saturn is a wonderful sight in a small telescope and it’s largest satellite Titan will appear as a star nearby. The latest news about Titan concerns a lake of liquid methane located in the equatorial regions of that moon. The equatorial region seems too warm to support such a lake. At the poles, yes as we have seen, but not at the equator. The guess now is the that lake is fed from an underground aquifer. With its atmosphere, clouds, lakes, rains, rivers and hilly terrain Titan is a spooky analog of the earth that’s 300 degrees colder.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Seeing through the clouds at Titan’s surface. Credit: NASA – Cassini
06/21/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Thursday, June 21st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:31. The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 10:48 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week, one day late. Mercury is in the evening sky but very low in the west northwest about 45 minutes after sunset. It will set at 11:09 p.m. Mars is in the west southwest in the evening between the constellations Leo the lion and Virgo with its unmistakable bright reddish color. Mars will be setting in the west at 1:33 a.m. Saturn will be in the south southwest above the bright star Spica now. It will set at 2:45 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 4:10 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, is now in the morning sky will rise at 4:45 a.m. In the east northeast. It’s making its debut as the morning star.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking at the fading twilit sky at 10:30 p.m. on June 21, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
This is just an hour after sunset. The moon is really a very thin crescent, and is much dimmer than is shown here. Click to expand. When expanded the images above and below will appear at the same scale.
The eastern sky at 05:00 a.m. on June 22, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
This shows the sky an hour before sunrise tomorrow. In actuality Venus is much brighter than Jupiter.
06/13/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 13th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:28. The moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:47 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Mars is in the southwest in the evening between the constellations Leo the lion and Virgo with its unmistakable bright reddish color, though its fading as it retreats from us. Mars will be setting in the west at 1:58 a.m. Saturn will be in the south above the bright star Spica now. It’s due south at 9:41 p.m. and will set at 3:17 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 4:39 a.m. in the east northeast. Venus, now in the morning sky is very close to the rising sun, will itself rise at 5:18 a.m. I’m not sure it’s all that visible yet. Mercury is in the evening sky but too close to the sun to be seen, we should be able to spot it the last week of this month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Centered on the southwestern sky at 10:30 p.m. on June 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
The planets Saturn, Mars and Mercury. Click to enlarge.
The morning sky in the east at 5 a.m. on June 14, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter rising a bit right of East at 5 a.m. Venus will rise at 5:18 on the 14th. We should see them both next week. Click to enlarge.
06/06/2012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?
Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 6th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 26 minutes, setting at 9:24. The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:31 this evening. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.
Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week. Venus is now in the morning sky and very close to the sun, will be seen again in a few weeks. Mars is in the southwest in the evening in the constellation of Leo the lion with its unmistakable bright reddish color, though its fading as it retreats from us. It’s heading eastward toward Virgo. Mars will be setting in the west at 2:20 a.m. Saturn will be in the south above the bright star Spica now. It’s due south at 10:09 p.m. and will set at 3:45 a.m. Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 5:01 a.m. in the east northeast. Mercury is in the evening sky but too close to the sun to be seen, we should be able to spot it the last week of this month.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The planets at 10:15 in the evening. Check out Mercury near the horizon. Created using Stellarium.
5:15 a.m. at 6/7/2012. Morning sky and Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.
05/31/2012 – Ephemeris – Previewing June skies
Ephemeris for Thursday, May 31st. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 9:20. The moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:41 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:00.
Let’s preview June skies. There’ll be a lot of sun in June. The daylight hours will increase a bit from 15 hours and 20 minutes on the 1st to 15 hours and 33 minutes on the 20tht, retreating back to 15 hours 30 minutes at month’s end. The big event of the month will be the Transit of Venus across the sun on June 5th. We’ll see the first part of the transit starting about 6:04 p.m. That evening. I’ll have more information on how to safely view this event. Remember looking directly at the sun is dangerous. There will be safe viewing of the event at Traverse City’s Open Space. The next Venus transit will be in 105 ½ years. The extra day in February this leap year pushed the start of summer up to the 20th at 7:07 p.m.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
