10/27/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 10 hours and 23 minutes, setting at 6:38, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:15. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 11:27 this evening.

Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 7 tonight. It will set at 8:43 pm. By 7:15 pm, Jupiter will be spotted in the south-southeastern sky. Jupiter should be easy to spot at that hour. Saturn will be dimmer, and to its right. They will be visible for a while after midnight in the southwest, with Saturn setting first at 12:37 am, and Jupiter following at 1:57. Saturn’s rings are a beautiful sight in a telescope of even modest power, but the planet will appear tiny. In the morning sky, Mercury will be visible and low in the east-southeast for most of the 7 am hour. All four of Jupiter’s brightest moons will be visible in binoculars early in the evening tonight.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT – 4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus will appear low in the southwest by 7 pm tonight, October 27, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Saturn in evening twilight at 7:15 pm tonight, October 27, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as it might appear in binoculars or a small telescope tomorrow morning, October 28, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

Mercury in morning twilight finder for 7:30 am tomorrow, October 28, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 9 pm, October 27, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus at 7 pm, 24.19″, 50.8% illuminated; Saturn 16.92″, its rings 39.41″; Jupiter, 42.87″. Mercury at 7:30 am on the 28th and not plotted, 6.47″, 64.9% illuminated. The Jovian moon Io will begin transiting the face of the planet at 9:20 pm. Its shadow will start to cross at 10:37 pm. Io’s transit will end at 11:37 pm. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on October 27, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 28th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.