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Posts Tagged ‘Water Jar’

Ephemeris: 11/22/2024 – Finding Aquarius

November 22, 2024 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Friday, November 22nd. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 5:08, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:50. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 12:04 tomorrow morning.

One of the constellations of the zodiac is in the southern sky at 8 in the evening, where Saturn is located this year. It’s the constellation of Aquarius, the water bearer. The image that is supposed to be depicted in the stars is that of a fellow carrying a stone jar of water. Aquarius is fairly hard to spot because it is made of faint stars. One part of him, though, is easier to spot. That is the Water Jar, an asterism or informal constellation. It is a distinctive small nearly equilateral triangle of stars with another star in the center. Aquarius is not a very good water bearer because he’s spilling the water out of his jar. The Water jar is above and to the right of Saturn this year and the water is flowing down a line of stars to the lower left.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

An animated finder chart for the constellation Aquarius
An animated finder chart for the constellation Aquarius. This year the planet Saturn is a good pointer to the constellation. In other years it can be found sandwiched between the head of Pegasus the flying horse above and the star Fomalhaut to the south. Aquarius’ stars are mostly rather faint, but the one pattern that does stand out is the asterism called the Water Jar which is circled in the animation. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

11/15/2022 – Ephemeris – Finding the constellation of Aquarius the water bearer

November 15, 2022 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Tuesday, November 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 5:14, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:41. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:13 this evening.

One of the constellations of the zodiac is in the southern sky at 8 in the evening, between Jupiter and Saturn. It’s the constellation of Aquarius, the water bearer. The image that is supposed to be depicted in the stars is that of a fellow spilling a stone jar of water. Aquarius is fairly hard to spot because it is made of faint stars. One part of him, though, is easy to spot. That is the Water Jar, an asterism or informal constellation. It is a distinctive small nearly equilateral triangle of stars with another star in the center. Stars extending to the right from the water jar are the yoke he’s holding the water jar with. The Water jar is above and centered on a line drawn between Jupiter and Saturn. The water is flowing down a line of stars to the lower left.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT -5 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Aquarius finder animation

How to find Aquarius this autumn. It’s between Jupiter and Saturn. The image is set for 8 pm tonight, November 15, 2022. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

10/24/2019 – Ephemeris – Let’s find Aquarius

October 24, 2019 Comments off

Ephemeris for Thursday, October 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 6:43, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:11. The Moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 4:41 tomorrow morning.

One of the constellations of the zodiac is in the southeastern sky at 8 in the evening. It’s the constellation of Aquarius the water bearer. The image that is supposed to be depicted in the stars is that of a fellow spilling a stone jar of water. Aquarius is fairly hard to spot because it is made of faint stars. One part of him, though, is easy to spot. That is the Water Jar, an asterism or informal constellation. It is a distinctive small nearly equilateral triangle of stars with another star in the center. Stars extending to the right from the water jar are the yoke he’s holding the water jar with. The Water jar is just below the top of the head of the upside down Pegasus the flying horse. The water is flowing down a vertical line of stars.

The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Aquarius finder animation

Aquarius finder animation for tonight at 8 p.m. October 24, 2019. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

11/10/2014 – Ephemeris – Where is the constellation of Aquarius the water bearer

November 10, 2014 Comments off

Ephemeris for Monday, November 10th.  The sun will rise at 7:32.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 47 minutes, setting at 5:19.   The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 8:45 this evening.

One of the constellations of the zodiac is in the southern sky at 8 in the evening.  It’s the constellation of Aquarius the water bearer.  The image that is supposed to be depicted in the stars is that of a hapless fellow spilling a stone jar of water across the sky.  Aquarius is fairly hard to spot because it is made of faint stars.  One part of Aquarius is easy to spot, the Water Jar, an asterism or informal constellation.  It’s a distinctive small nearly equilateral triangle of stars with another star in the center.  Stars extending to the right from the water jar are that stream of water in some depictions.  The body of Aquarius is below, a misshapen balloon of stars that is seen above the bright star Fomalhaut, low in the south.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Aquarius

Aquarius highlighting the Water Jar. Created using Stellarium.