Archive
08/19/2020 – Ephemeris – Looking at the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 19th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 8:41, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:51. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 9:30 this evening.
Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter and Saturn are both low in the south-southeastern sky at 10 pm. Jupiter is the very bright one. To the left of it will be Saturn. They now seem to be separating a bit due to the Earth’s motion now, but they will cross paths in December. Both planets will be up most of the night with Jupiter setting first at 3:32 tomorrow morning and Saturn following at 4:15 am. The next planet visible will be Mars which will rise at 10:59 pm. Its now down to 51.3 million miles (82.6 million kilometers) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.0 million miles (4.9 million kilometers) a week. Brilliant Venus will rise at 3:09 am and is moving ahead of the Earth in its orbit.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and Saturn with three constellations of the zodiac at 10 pm tonight August 19, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Venus and Mars finder animation as seen at 6 am or about an hour before sunrise tomorrow morning August 20, 2020 with and without the lines delineating nearby constellations. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 45.64″; Saturn, 18.21″, rings, 42.42″. Mars, 17.17″, and Venus 21.81″. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 19, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 20th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/12/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at a the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 12th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 8:52, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:43. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:16 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at a the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter and Saturn are both low in the south-southeastern sky at 10 pm. Jupiter is the very bright one. To the left of it will be Saturn. They now seem to be separating a bit due to the Earth’s motion now, but they will cross paths in December. Both planets will be up most of the night with Jupiter setting first at 4:02 tomorrow morning and Saturn following at 4:44 am. The next planet visible will be Mars which will rise at 11:22 pm. Its now down to 54.3 million miles (87.5 million kilometers) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.4 million miles (5.4 million kilometers) a week. Brilliant Venus will rise at 3:09 am in the east-northeast and is as far west from the Sun as it can get today.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and Saturn animation at 10 pm with Sagittarius and Scorpius constellation lines. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
The morning planets and the Moon as seen at 5:30 am or about an hour before sunrise tomorrow morning August 13, 2020 with and without the lines delineating nearby constellations. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 5:30 am tomorrow August 13, 2020. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification (Jupiter and Saturn) tonight at 10 pm August 12 and (Venus and Mars) 5:30 am tomorrow August 13, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 46.31″; Saturn, 18.32″, rings, 42.67″, Mars, 16.18″, and Venus 23.49″. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 12, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 13th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
08/05/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 5th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 9:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:35. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 10:32 this evening.
Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter and Saturn are both low in the southeastern sky in the evening. Jupiter is the very bright one. To the left of it will be Saturn. They now seem to be separating a bit due to the Earth’s motion now, but they will cross paths in December. Both planets will be up most of the night with Jupiter setting first at 4:33 am tomorrow morning and Saturn following at 5:14 am. The next planet visible will be Mars which will rise at 11:43 pm. Its now down to 57.7 million miles (92.9 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.4 million miles (5.5 million km) a week. Brilliant Venus will rise at 3:09 am in the east-northeast as our Morning Star.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Evening planets Jupiter and Saturn seen in the southeast along with the constellations of Sagittarius (looks like a teapot) and Scorpius at 10 pm, about 45 minutes after sunset tonight August 5, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 11 pm tonight August 5, 2020, about a half hour after it rises. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets and the Moon as seen at 5:30 am or about an hour before sunrise tomorrow morning August 6, 2020. Note the winter constellation of Orion rising in the east with its two brightest stars Betelgeuse and Rigel labeled. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tonight and tomorrow, August 5/6, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 46.85″; Saturn, 18.40″, rings, 42.85″ at 10 pm. Mars, 15.26″, and Venus 25.46″. At 5:30 am. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 5, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 6th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/29/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at a the naked-eye planets and not so naked-eye comets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 29th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 45 minutes, setting at 9:11, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:27. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 2:27 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at a the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter and Saturn are both low in the southeastern sky in the evening. Jupiter is the very bright one. To the left of it will be Saturn. Both planets will be up most of the night with Jupiter setting first at 5:05 am tomorrow morning and Saturn following at 5:44 am. Comet NEOWISE is in the evening sky fading to below naked-eye visibility and also it is hampered by the bright moon. It was a great sight in this bleak year of 2020. The next planet visible will be Mars which will rise at 12:03 am. Its now down to 60.6 million miles (97.5 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.6 million miles (5.7 million km) a week. Venus will rise at 3:14 am in the east-northeast as our Morning Star. Finally Mercury will rise at 4:59 am.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Evening planets Jupiter and Saturn seen in the southeast at 10 pm, about 45 minutes after sunset July 29, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The gibbous Moon as it might be seen tonight at 10 pm July 29, 2020. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets as seen at 5:30 am or about an hour before sunrise July 30,2020. Mercury is showing up, rising at 4:56 amClick on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tonight and tomorrow July 29/30, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 47.26″; Saturn, 18.45″, rings, 42.98″ at 10 pm. Mars, 14.40″, and Venus 27.78″ at 5:30 am. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 29, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 30th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Finder chart for Comets NEOWISE and Lemmon at 11 pm for the week of 07/29/20 to 08/04/20. NEOWISE will be a visible in binoculars. Lemmon will require a telescope. Labels give name, month/day and predicted magnitude. Click on the chart to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
07/22/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at a comet and the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours even, setting at 9:19, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:19. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 11:01 this evening.
Let’s look at a comet and the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter now rises at before sunset, so does Saturn. Both are now official evening planets. They are both low in the southeast in the evening. Jupiter is the very bright one. To the left of it will be Saturn. Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) is visible in the evening sky. A good time to start looking would be about 11 pm toward the northwest. The comet be beneath the bowl of the Big Dipper. The comet is fading as it recedes from the Sun. After tonight the waxing Moon will light up the sky and make the comet harder to spot. The next planet up will be Mars which will rise at 12:41 am. Its now down to 64.2 million miles (103.2 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.7 million miles (6 million km) a week. Venus will rise at 3:22 am in the east-northeast as our Morning Star.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Comet NEOWISE finder chart for tonight July 22, 2020 at 11 pm or about an hour and a half after sunset. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Jupiter planets plus two southern constellations to the right of them at 11 pm tonight July 22, 2020. Just right of Jupiter is Sagittarius that looks more like a teapot than a centaur with a bow and arrow. Further right is Scorpius the scorpion. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Planets visible at 5 am tomorrow morning July 23, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tonight and tomorrow July 22/23, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 47.52″; Saturn, 18.48″, rings, 43.04″, Mars, 13.60″, and Venus 33.53″. At 11 pm. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 22, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 23rd. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/15/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at a comet and the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 13 minutes, setting at 9:25, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:12. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 2:47 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at a comet and naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter now rises before sunset and now is an official evening planet. It’s seen low in the southeast in the evening. To the left of it will be Saturn. The next planet up will be Mars which will rise at 12:41 am. Its now down to 67.8 million miles (109.2 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.7 million miles (6 million km) a week. Venus will rise at 3:33 am in the east-northeast as our Morning Star. Newly discovered Comet NEOWISE is now visible in the evening sky A good time to start looking would be about 10:45 pm toward the northwest. The comet is trending brighter than early predictions and sports a wide tail. The comet gets its name from the NASA Satellite and mission to detect near Earth objects or NEOs in the infrared.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Comet NEOWISE in the evening tonight July 15, 2020 at 11 pm. The comet’s head or coma is shown somewhat brighter than it actually appears. What shows up first is the streak oa the tail. 11 pm here in western Michigan is equivalent to about an hour and a half after sunset. Created using Stellarium.
Saturn and Jupiter in the evening tonight at 11 pm July 15, 2020. Also shown are the stars of the Teapot of Sagittarius and Scorpius to the right. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Mars, Saturn and Jupiter at 4:30 tomorrow morning July 16, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Venus, the Moon and the comet in the morning at 4:30 am or about an hour, 45 minutes before sunrise. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Binocular Moon tomorrow morning at 4:30 a.m. July 16, 2020. The large dark gray area centered on the 9 o’clock position that dominates the crescent is Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms). The dark floored crater near the limb at the 8 o’clock position is Grimaldi. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tonight and tomorrow July 15/16, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 47.63″; Saturn, 18.47″, rings, 43.02″, Mars, 12.87″, and Venus 33.81″. At 11 pm the moon Io is transiting the face of Jupiter. I’ve ever been able to spot a moon in transit, though I can sometimes see the shadow cast on the planet. By 4:30 am Io will appear next to Jupiter on the same side as Callisto. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets, a comet, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 15, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 16th. Jupiter made it into the evening sky yesterday when it passed opposition. Saturn will do the same on the 20th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/08/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the naked-eye planets and a comet for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 8th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 9:29, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:06. The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 12:05 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the naked-eye planets and a comet for this week. Jupiter now rises at 9:41 pm in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise 22 minutes later at 10:03 pm right behind Jupiter. Mars, is stretching its lead left of Saturn and will rise at 1 am in the east. Its now down to 71 and a half million miles (115.2 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.9 million miles (6.2 million km) a week. Venus will rise at 3:47 am in the east-northeast as our Morning Star. Newly discovered Comet NEOWISE will rise at 3:16 am and be visible in the northeast before the twilit sky brightens too much. The comet gets its name from the NASA Satellite and mission to detect near Earth objects or NEOs in the infrared.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Saturn and Jupiter planets plus two southern constellations to the right of them at 11 pm tonight July 8, 2020. Just right of Jupiter is Sagittarius that looks more like a teapot than a centaur with a bow and arrow. Further right is Scorpius the scorpion. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Planets, the Moon and a comet visible at 5 am tomorrow morning July 9, 2020. Venus appears just above the star Aldebaran. Comet NEOWISE’ tail is visible, but not at this scale, and it is shown as being too bright. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might appear tomorrow morning at 5 a.m. July 9, 2020. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tonight and tomorrow July 8/9, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 47.57″; Saturn, 18.43″, rings, 42.94″, Mars, 12.19″, and Venus 37.66″. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 8, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 9th. The closeness of Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky unfortunately overlays planets and labels. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
07/01/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 1st. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:01. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 3:49 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter now rises in the evening, tonight it’s at 10:08 pm in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise 19 minutes later at 10:27 pm right behind Jupiter. Mars, is stretching its lead left of Saturn and will rise at 1:18 am in the east. Its now down to 75.4 million miles (121.5 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 4 million miles (6.4 million km) a week. Jupiter and Saturn will be hanging out between Sagittarius and Capricornus this year while Mars is slowing its rapid eastward motion now two constellations over in Pisces. Finally, Venus will rise at 4:05 am in the east-northeast in the twilight as our Morning Star.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Almost evening planets Jupiter and Saturn, and the Moon at 11 pm on July 1st, 2020. Both Jupiter and Saturn are still officially morning planets since they rise after sunset. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The gibbous Moon as it might appear this evening, July 1st, 2020, in a pair of binoculars or small telescope. Created using Stellarium.
The morning planets, including Jupiter and Saturn which are also visible in the late evening. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tomorrow morning July 2, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 47.34″; Saturn, 18.37″, rings, 42.79″, Mars, 11.57″, and Venus 42.15″. Mars also displays an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on July 1, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 2nd. The closeness of Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky unfortunately overlays planets and labels. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/24/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:58. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 12:27 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter now rises in the evening, tonight it’s at 10:42 pm in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise 18 minutes later at 11pm right behind Jupiter. Mars, is stretching its lead left of Saturn and will rise at 1:36 am in the east. Its now down to 83.4 million miles (134.3 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 4 million miles (6.4 million km) a week. Jupiter and Saturn will be hanging out between Sagittarius and Capricornus this year while Mars is slowing its rapid eastward motion now two constellations over in Pisces. Finally, Venus will rise at 4:26 am in the east-northeast low in the twilight as our Morning Star.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
The Moon as seen through binoculars or small telescope tonight June 24, 2020. Note earthshine on the night side of the Moon. Created using Stellarium.
Jupiter & Saturn at midnight. Note the Teapot of Sagittarius to the right of Jupiter and the stars of Scorpius including Antares farther right. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
Four of the five naked-eye planets stretched out on this panorama from northeast to southwest at 5 am tomorrow morning June 25, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tomorrow morning June 25, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 46.96″; Saturn, 18.28″, rings, 42.58″, Mars, 10.99″, and Venus 47.10″. Mars also shows an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 24, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 25th. The closeness of Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky unfortunately overlays planets and labels. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
06/17/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look for the naked-eye planets for this week
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:56. The Moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:18 tomorrow morning.
Let’s look for the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter now rises before midnight at 11:12 pm in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise 17 minutes later at 11:29 right behind Jupiter. Mars, is stretching its lead left of Saturn and will rise at 1:53 am in the east. Its now down to 83.4 million miles (134.3 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 4.3 million miles (7.0 million km) a week. Jupiter and Saturn will be hanging out between Sagittarius and Capricornus this year while Mars is slowing its rapid eastward motion now two constellations over in Pisces. Finally, Venus will rise at 4:51 am in the east-northeast low in the twilight as our new Morning Star.
The event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Jupiter and Saturn finder animation for midnight June 18, 2020. For other locations, approximately 2 1/2 hours after sunset. Also showing the stars of the Teapot of Sagittarius to the upper right of the SE compass point and most, except the bottom stars of Scorpius in the south. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Panorama of the morning planets at 5:15 am or about 45 minutes before sunrise tomorrow June 18, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.
The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars tomorrow morning before sunrise June 18, 2020. Created using Stellarium.
The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification. Jupiter and Saturn tomorrow morning of June 18, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 46.34″; Saturn, 18.14″, rings, 42.36″ and Mars, 41.38″. Mars also shows an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).
Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 17, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 18th. The closeness of Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky unfortunately overlays planets and labels. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 