Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ground Hog Day, Wednesday, February 2nd.  The sun will rise at 8:00.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 52 minutes, setting at 5:52.  The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.

Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week. Mars is very near the direction of the sun and will come in conjunction with the sun on Friday.  The planet Jupiter is up in the southwestern sky in the early evening.  It is a spectacular sight in a telescope with its four satellites, shifting their positions from night to night, and the cloud bands running in the directions of the satellites.  Jupiter is the brightest star-like object in the evening.  It’s located left the Circlet in Pisces now and will set at 10:03 p.m.  The ringed planet Saturn will rise at 11:13 p.m.  in the east southeast and will move due south at 4:57 a.m.  Venus is brilliant in the morning sky and will rise at 5:11 a.m. in the east southeast.  Mercury is now too close to the direction of the sun to be seen.

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