Ephemeris: 04/24/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 8:39, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:41. The Moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 9:49 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Jupiter, looking not-so bright in twilight is very low and in the west. It will set at 10:23 pm. I’m giving Jupiter another week of evening visibility. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks now only visible to observers south of the equator. In the morning, Mars and Saturn will be close together in the east southeastern sky at 6 am. They will be fighting the bright morning twilight and low altitude then. Saturn will be difficult to see right now in the twilight. Mars will be harder to spot. Saturn will look fairly different this year and next with its rings nearly edge on to us. They will look more like a line through the planet.

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

Jupiter appears very low in the West northwest at 9:30 PM which is about 50 minutes after sunset. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon a day after full at 10:30 PM tonight, April 24th 2024. At this time it’s still low in the sky showing its coloring. Selected features are labeled. Created with Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw and GIMP.

Saturn and Mars is they might appear tomorrow morning at 6:00 AM, April 25th 2024. They might be difficult or impossible to pick out low in the east southeast because they are much dimmer than Jupiter. In fact Saturn is dimmer than it normally is because its rings are nearly edge on and will be edge on to us in 11 months, before opening up again. The rings, when they’re open, contribute a great deal to Saturn’s brightness. Created using Stellarium , LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

This is Saturn as it might appear in a telescope at 6:00 AM tomorrow, April 25th 2024. It is larger than I usually present it, to show off it’s rings or nearly lack thereof. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 24th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 25th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Ephemeris: 04/17/2024 – Where have all the planets gone?

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 17th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 8:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:52. The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 5:04 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Bright Jupiter is very low and in the west. It will set at 10:23 pm. We are getting close to losing Jupiter in the evening sky. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is just below-left of it. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere might now get a chance to spot it, but I believe it’s too far gone for us. In the morning, Mars and Saturn will be very close together in the east southeastern sky at 6:30. They will be fighting the bright morning twilight and low altitude then. Saturn will be difficult to see right now in the twilight . It will look fairly different this year and next with its rings nearly edge on to us. They will look more like a line through the planet.
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

The five naked eye planets and Comet Pons-Brooks are located near the Sun . This image you see the Sun if the Earth had no atmosphere, at solar noon which is about 1:41 PM. Saturn is the farthest planet from the Sun at about 42°. Anything to the right of the Sun is a morning planet, anything to the left is an evening planet. And since Jupiter is above the Sun it can be seen more easily in the evening than can Saturn in he morning, which is below the Sun. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Venus found in a photograph of the total solar eclipse of April 8th 2024 with a smartphone camera by one in our party. Credit Jeff Busch.

The planet Jupiter shown here much brighter than it will actually appear tonight at 9:30 PM, or about an hour after sunset. It’s altitude will be about 9° above the horizon. Observers south of us will see Jupiter a little bit higher in the sky at the same time period after sunset. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon is a might be seen in binoculars or a small telescope this evening, April 17th 2024. Select features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

Saturn and Mars as they might be glimpsed early in the morning at 6:00 AM, about an hour before sunrise. Saturn is brighter than Mars, however Saturn is dimmer than it normally is mainly because it’s rings are closing and nearly edge on. When the rings are at their most open they contribute more to the brightness of Saturn than the planet does. Created using Stellarium.

None of the planets are good telescopic objects now, due to their low position in the sky, and twilight.

The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 17th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 18th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Ephemeris: 04/10/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to?

This post was updated due to it being uploaded late, and without illustrations. This was due to my recovery from the mad dash eclipse trip Sunday through Tuesday. By the way it was glorious! I shall recount it soon in an Ephemeris Extra post.

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 10th. Today the Sun will be up for 13 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 8:22, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:04. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 11:21 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Bright Jupiter is low and in the west, and tonight only can be seen below the crescent Moon. It will set at 10:25 pm. We are getting close to losing Jupiter in the evening sky. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is just below-right of it. Though officially naked-eye brightness, one has to have very good eyes, binoculars or telescope to spot it. In my Wednesday blog posts at bobmoler.wordpress.com I have finder charts. In the morning Mars, and Saturn will be very close together in the east southeastern sky at 6:30. They will be fighting the bright morning twilight and low altitude then.

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

The Moon, Jupiter and Comet Pons-Brooks for 9:30 PM Thursday April 11th 2024. Due to the late post I’m showing this for tomorrow night. Created using Stellarium .

Here is a finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week at 9:30 PM. Jupiter is also in the field. The first position is marked with the name, month and day, and the approximate magnitude. The chart shows a comet tail. The tail will probably not be visible visually, however if it is visible, that is the direction it will be pointing. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The three day old Moon as it might appear Thursday at 9:30 PM April 11th 2024 through binoculars or a small telescope. Selected features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

Mars and Saturn as they may appear side by side tomorrow morning April 12th 2024 at about 6:15 AM. They are probably shown somewhat brighter than they would normally appear in the sky. Created using Stellarium , LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope at 9:30 April 11, 2024 in this erect image, showing the position of its Galilean moons. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 33.54″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 11th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 12th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Ephemeris: 04/03/2024 – Where have the naked-eye planets wandered off to this week?

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 3rd. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 54 minutes, setting at 8:13, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:17. The Moon, 2 days past last quarter, will rise at 5:33 tomorrow morning.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Mercury is now too close to the Sun to be spotted. Bright Jupiter is due west at 8:45 pm or a half hour after sunset. It will set at 11:05 pm. We are getting close to losing Jupiter in the evening sky. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is right of and a bit below Jupiter in the evening. Though officially naked-eye brightness, one has to have very good eyes, binoculars or telescope to spot it. In my Wednesday blog posts at bobmoler.wordpress.com I have finder charts. In the morning Mars, and especially Venus and Saturn may be impossible to spot, in the east-southeast in the bright twilight. Mars will rise at 6:10, and will be very low in the east-southeast at 6:45 am.

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

Jupiter and Mercury as might be seen at 9:00 PM, or nearly three quarters of an hour after sunset, tonight April 3rd 2024 . Also Comet Pons-Brooks is in the same general area of the sky. It is 5th magnitude, and probably not visible without binoculars or a small telescope. Mercury is definiotely not visible wothout a telescope. Created using Stellarium.

Here is a finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week at 9:30 PM. Jupiter is also in the field. The first position is marked with the name, month and day, and the approximate magnitude. The chart shows a comet tail. The tail will probably not be visible visually, however if it is visible, that is the direction it will be pointing. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

During the solar eclipse on the 8th, during totality, the comet will be located around the 2nd to the last position of its track. However, unless it is obviously noticeable, totality time is too short to use trying to find it. Enjoy the glory of the sun’s corona for the brief time you have.

The Moon, Mars, and Saturn as they might appear about 6:45 in the morning about 1/2 an hour before sunrise low in the east-southeast to southeast. Mars and Saturn are shown brighter than they might appear, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t see them. Created using Stellarium.

The moon as seen in a pair binoculars or telescope around 6:45 tomorrow morning April 4th 2024. Selected features are labeled. Montes Jura or the Jura Mountains on the terminator surround 3 sides of the Bay of Rainbows (Sinus Iridium). The crater J. Herschel is named after John Herschel, son of William Herschel, a more famous astronomer, who has a small crater near the center of the disk of the moon just north of crater named for Ptolemy and near another crater named for the Greek astronomer Hipparchus. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope at 9:30 this evening in this erect image, showing the position of its Galilean moons. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 33.93″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, April 3rd 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 4th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Ephemeris: 03/28/2024 Comet Pons-Brooks can be seen near Jupiter with binoculars

This is Ephemeris for Thursday, March 28th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 36 minutes, setting at 8:06, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:28. The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:59 this evening.

A dim naked eye comet is gracing our evening skies now. It’s called 12P/Pons Brooks. The 12P designation means it was the 12th periodic comet discovered. It was discovered in 1812 by French astronomer Jean-Louis Pons and rediscovered 71 years later on its return by William Brooks. Last July it had an outburst and gained about 100 times increase in brightness. It has held on to most of that. However, right now it’s 5th magnitude which makes it very difficult to spot even in binoculars. Comets always appear to be much dimmer than their magnitude suggests. It was last seen in 1954 and has a 71-year orbit of the Sun that takes it out to Neptune’s orbit. It currently appears below-right of Jupiter.

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

This is the head or coma of Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks after an eruption occurred in its nucleus and a gain 100 fold in brightness. The appearance of the coma is that of either the Millennium Falcon or a devil. I don’t want to ascribe any religious significance here. This kind of thing does happen to some comets from time to time. It’s not a miracle or anything special, just a comet doing its thing just like all comets do. Photo via Space.com

Here is a finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week at 9:30 PM. Jupiter is also in the field. The first position is marked with the name, month and day, and the approximate magnitude. The chart shows a comet tail. The tail will probably not be visible visually, however if it is visible, that is the direction it will be pointing. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Ephemeris: 03/27/2024 – Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 12 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 8:04, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:30. The Moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 10:50 this evening.

Let’s find out where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this week, and see what planets are left. Mercury is visible in the evening sky shortly after sunset appearing very low in the west. It will be visible for the next few days or so, slowly heading back toward the Sun since this past Sunday. Higher up in the sky is bright Jupiter in the west southwest. It will set at 11:25 pm. Jupiter will be visible in the evening for only about another month or so. In the morning Mars, and especially Venus and Saturn may be impossible to spot, in the east-southeast in the bright twilight. Mars will rise at 6:28, and will be very low in the east-southeast. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks is below-right of Jupiter in the evening. I’ll have more about it tomorrow.

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

Jupiter and Mercury as might be seen at 9:00 PM, or nearly an hour after sunset, tonight March 27th 2024 . Also Comet Pons-Brooks is in the same general area of the sky. It is 5th magnitude almost 6th, and probably not visible without binoculars or a small telescope . Created using Stellarium.

Here is a finder chart for Comet Pons-Brooks for the next week at 9:30 PM. Jupiter is also in the field. The first position is marked with the name, month and day, and the approximate magnitude. The chart shows a comet tail. The tail will probably not be visible visually, however if it is visible, that is the direction it will be pointing. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Carts du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The waning gibbous Moon tonight at midnight, March 27th 2024, with and without annotations of selected features . Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.

Mars as seen about 6:50 in the morning or about 40 minutes before sunrise, looking east-southeast. It may not look as bright as this. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter as it might appear in a telescope at 9:30 this evening in this erect image, showing the position of its Galilean moons. Jupiter’s apparent diameter is 34.3″. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts). Labels via Libre Office Draw.

The naked-eye planets, Comet Pons-Brooks, and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right tonight, March 27th 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise tomorrow morning on the 28th. The symbols and labels for Saturn and Venus in the morning overlay each other. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.