Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

President’s Day, Monday, February 21st.  The sun will rise at 7:33.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 45 minutes, setting at 6:19.   The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 11:08 this evening.

The large and bright constellation of Orion is now in the southeast at 9 p.m.  It is seen as an upright rectangle of bright stars, with a belt of three stars in the center.  Orion is a minor character in Greek mythology.  Orion was the son of Neptune, and was a hunter.  He had an ill fated romance with Merope, whose father King Oenopion, had him blinded.  After having his sight restored, Orion became a companion of Diana goddess of the hunt and they wanted to marry.  Apollo, Diana’s brother disapproved of Orion also and was able to trick Diana into accidentally killing Orion with her bow.  The heartbroken Diana then placed Orion in the sky with his hunting dogs, were we see him to this day.

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