Archive
12/08/2015 – Ephemeris – The hard charging Taurus the bull
Ephemeris for Tuesday, December 8th. The Sun will rise at 8:07. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:02. The Moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 6:03 tomorrow morning.
Low in the east at 9 p.m. is the constellation of Orion the giant hunter . Above him is Taurus the bull. His face is a letter V shape of stars lying on its side with the bright orange-red star Aldebaran at the bottom left tip of the V as its angry blood-shot eye. Orion is depicted in the sky facing with club in one hand and a shield in the other the approaching and in some depictions charging Taurus. The V of stars is a star cluster called the Hyades. The Pleiades are in his shoulder above. Taurus in Greek mythology was the guise the god Zeus when he carried off the maiden Europa. Europa’s still with him, sort of, as the intriguing satellite orbiting Zeus’ Roman equivalent Jupiter. In fact the moons around the planet Jupiter are generally named for Jupiter’s lovers and friends. His wife is missing from the entourage, and will be until the NASA spacecraft Juno reaches Jupiter next year.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Three views of Taurus the bull and Orion the hunter for 9 p.m. on December 8, 2015. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
08/06/2015 – Ephemeris – There’s an eagle in the stars
Ephemeris for Thursday, August 6th. The Sun rises at 6:34. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 9:02. The Moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 12:46 tomorrow morning.
The southernmost star in the Summer Triangle of three bright stars is Altair, high in the south-southeast in the evening. It’s in the head of the constellation Aquila the Eagle. Altair is flanked by two stars, the eagle’s shoulders, and farther out are the wing tips. Other stars to the lower right are in its body and a last three in its tail. Near the tail binoculars will show a fuzzy spot that telescopes show as a compact star cluster, sometimes called the Wild Duck Cluster for its nearly triangular shape. Aquila is flying northeastward through the Milky Way, where it is split in two by a cloud of gas and dust. According to mythology the Trojan boy Ganymede was taken to heaven at the behest of the god Zeus by this eagle.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Aquila the Eagle in the southeastern sky. Created using Stellarium.
Finder chart for M11, the Wild Duck Cluster, Created using Stellarium.
05/28/2013 – Ephemeris – Boötes the bear chaser
Ephemeris for Tuesday, May 28th. Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 14 minutes, setting at 9:17. The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 12:34 tomorrow morning. Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:02.
Appearing high in the southeastern sky at 10:30 tonight is the kite shaped constellation of Boötes the herdsman. The bright star Arcturus is at the bottom of the kite, pointed to by the arc of the handle of the Big Dipper, overhead. In one story Boötes represents a young hunter named Arcas, son of Callisto, a beautiful young lady who had the misfortune of being loved by Zeus the chief Greek god. Zeus’ wife Hera, found out about it, and since she couldn’t punish Zeus, turned Callisto into an ugly bear. Arcas, unaware of why his mother disappeared in his youth was about to kill the bear when Zeus intervened and placed them both in the sky. Now Arcas as Boötes chases the Great Bear forever around the pole of the sky each day and night.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Bootes and Ursa Major high overhead on late spring evenings at 11 p.m. Created using Stellarium.
11/25/11 – Ephemeris – The mythology of Taurus the bull
Friday, November 25th. The sun will rise at 7:51. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 5:06. The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.
Low in the east at 9 p.m. is the constellation of Orion the giant hunter. Above him is Taurus the bull. His face is a letter V shape of stars lying on its side with the bright orange-red star Aldebaran at the bottom tip of the V as its angry blood-shot eye. Orion is depicted in the sky facing with club in one hand and a shield in the other the approaching and in some depictions charging Taurus. The V of stars is a star cluster called the Hyades. The Pleiades are in his shoulder above. Taurus in Greek mythology was the guise the god Zeus when he carried off the maiden Europa. Europa’s still with him, sort of, as the intriguing satellite orbiting Zeus’ Roman equivalent Jupiter. In fact the moons around the planet Jupiter are generally named for Jupiter’s lovers and friends.
* Times, as always are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.
Addendum
The constellations Taurus and Orion and the Pleiades. Created using Cartes du Ciel.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 