08/26/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at a the naked-eye planets for this week

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 26th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 8:29, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:59. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:09 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 3:02 tomorrow morning and Saturn following at 3:45 am. The next planet visible will be Mars which will

rise at 10:36 pm. Its now down to 48.3 million miles (77.8 million kilometers) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 3.0 million miles (4.8 million kilometers) a week. Brilliant Venus will rise at 3:14 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, Saturn and the Moon at 10 pm August 26, 2020. Note that the Moon is enlarged 3 times to show its phase. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The gibbous Moon as it might be seen tonight at 10 pm August 26, 2020. Created using Stellarium.

Venus and Mars at 6 am tomorrow morning August 27, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 44.89″; Saturn, 18.08″, rings, 42.12″. Mars, 18.21″, and Venus 20.37″. At 6 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 26, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 27th. Comet NEOWISE is now 8th magnitude, almost too faint for binoculars. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.