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05/15/2023 – Ephemeris – Why are crows black?
This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Monday, May 15th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 9:04, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:13. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:47 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south at 10:30 this evening. It’s made of 6 dim stars, the pattern is a distinctive but distorted box with two stars in the upper left corner and two stars in the lower right corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra, the water snake who is slithering above the southern horizon. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet who once bid the crow to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus, however, dallied and waited for a green fig to ripen. Corvus then grabbed a snake and returned with a story on how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo saw through the story and turned the crow black.
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
Corvus, Crater and Hydra finder chart. The chart was made for earlier in the month, so when it’s dark enough to see them, the constellations will have shifted to the west or right. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
05/06/2021 – Ephemeris – Corvus, Crater, Hydra and Apollo
This is Ephemeris for Thursday, May 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 28 minutes, setting at 8:54, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:24. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 5:04 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south at 10:30 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive but distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering just above the southern horizon. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. Apollo once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for a green fig to ripen. He grabbed a snake and returned with a story as to how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows to this day black.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
05/02/2019 – Ephemeris – Apollo and the constellations of Corvus, Crater and Hydra
Ephemeris for Thursday, May 2nd. Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 17 minutes, setting at 8:48, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:30. The Moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:18 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south at 10:30 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering just above the southern horizon. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. He once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for a green fig to ripen. Corvus grabbed a snake and returned with a story on how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows to this day black.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corvus, Crater and Hydra finder chart for 10 p.m. May 2, 2019. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
05/11/2018 – Ephemeris – Corvus, Crater, Hydra and a fig
Ephemeris for Friday, May 11th. The Sun rises at 6:19. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 40 minutes, setting at 8:59. The Moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 5:09 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south at 10:30 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering above the southern horizon. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. He once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for a green fig to ripen. Corvus then grabbed a snake and returned with a story on how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows black to this day.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corvus, Crater and Hydra finder chart for 10:30 p.m. May 11, 2017. Apollo is not in the night sky, and is presumably resting after guiding the Sun’s (Helios) chariot across the daytime sky. The fig? Corvus ate it. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
04/27/2017 – Ephemeris – A constellation story on why crows are black
Ephemeris for Thursday, April 27th. The Sun rises at 6:38. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 4 minutes, setting at 8:42. The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 10:16 this evening.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south-southeast at 10:30 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering just above the southern horizon.. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. Apollo once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for an unripe fig to ripen. Corvus grabbed a snake and returned with a story as to how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows to this day black.
The times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corvus, Crater and Hydra finder chart for 10:30 p.m. April 27, 2017. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
04/28/2016 – Ephemeris – The adventures of Corvus, Apollo’s pet crow
Ephemeris for Thursday, April 28th. The Sun rises at 6:36. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 8 minutes, setting at 8:44. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 2:20 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south at 11 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering just above the southern horizon.. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. Apollo once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for a green fig to ripen. Corvus grabbed a snake and returned with a story as to how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows to this day black.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corvus the crow, Crater the cup and Hydra the water snake along with Jupiter and the other spring stars at 10 p.m. April 28, 2016. Created using Stellarium.
04/28/2014 – Ephemeris – The legend of the constellation of Corvus the crow
Ephemeris for Monday, April 28th. The sun rises at 6:37. It’ll be up for 14 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 8:43. The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:53 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the south at 10:30 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering just above the southern horizon. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. He once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for a green fig to ripen. Corvus grabbed a snake and returned with a story on how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows to this day black.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Corvus the crow, Crater the cup and Hydra the water snake along with the other spring constellations ay 10 p.m. April 28, 2014. Created using Stellarium.
04/10/2012 – Ephemeris – The story of Corvus the crow
Ephemeris for Tuesday, April 10th. The sun will rise at 7:06. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 8:21. The moon, 3 days before last quarter, will rise at 1:27 tomorrow morning.
The small constellation of Corvus the crow is located low in the southeast at 10 this evening. It’s made of 5 dim stars, but the pattern is a distinctive distorted box with two stars at the upper left marking that corner. To the right is a fainter constellation of a thick stemmed goblet called Crater. Both appear above the long constellation of Hydra the water snake who is slithering just above the southern horizon.. In Greek mythology Corvus, then white, was the god Apollo’s pet. Apollo once bid Corvus to take a cup and fetch him some water. Corvus however dallied and waited for an unripe fig to ripen. Corvus grabbed a snake and returned with a story as to how the snake had delayed him. The angry Apollo turned the crow and all crows to this day black.
* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Hydra the Water Snake at 10 p.m. on April 9th, 2012. Created using Stellarium.
Yesterday’s chart, but little change. OK, it for 9:56 p.m. Check out Corvus the crow and Crater the cup. Sextens the sextant came later. The Greeks didn’t have them.
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