Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Tuesday, February 1st.  The sun will rise at 8:01.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:51.   The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 7:31 tomorrow morning.

There is a long and sinuous constellation that’s part of the winter sky.  It is Eridanus, which depicts a river.  The river starts near the lower right corner of Orion, near the bright star Rigel and flows to the right then down near the southern horizon, then it meanders below the horizon.  One has to travel to the far southern United States or even farther south to see the southern terminus of the river, the bright star Archernar.  Writers over the ages  have seen here the Nile and the earth circling river Ocean of the flat earth days.  One of its stars is close to us and famous.  It’s Epsilon Eridani host to at least two large planets and the fictional home to Mr. Spock and other Vulcans of the Star Trek franchise.

* Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.