Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 16th.  The sun will rise at 7:53.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 7:49.   The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 6:19 tomorrow morning.

It’s Wednesday and time again to take a look at the whereabouts of the bright planets for this week.  If the weather cooperates tonight we might get a glimpse of Mercury just above  Jupiter low in the west shortly after sunset.  Jupiter is the brighter of the two and will set first at 9:07, with Mercury following at 9:18.  The best time to view them will be about 8:30 or so.   The ringed planet Saturn will rise at 9:17 p.m. in the east southeast and will move due south at 3:05 a.m.  In telescopes Saturn shows its rings which are a year and a half along their seven and a half year opening.  Venus is brilliant in the morning sky and will rise at 6:27 a.m. in the east southeast. It is really a beautiful sight in the morning twilight.

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

Addendum

Jupiter-Mercury Conjunction March 16, 2011. Created using Stellaruim.