Archive

Archive for February 16, 2011

02/16/11 – Ephemeris – The bright planets this week

February 16, 2011 Comments off

Wednesday, February 16th.  The sun will rise at 7:41.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 6:12.   The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:54 tomorrow morning.

Time again to take a look at the whereabouts of the bright planets for this week.  The planet Jupiter is up in the west 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 before it sets.  It’s located left the Circlet in Pisces now and will set at 9:23 p.m.  The ringed planet Saturn will rise at 10:16 p.m.  in the east southeast and will move due south at 4:01 a.m.  Venus is brilliant in the morning sky and will rise at 5:24 a.m. in the east southeast.  Mercury is now too close to the direction of the sun to be seen, as is Mars which is now in the morning sky.

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