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06/08/11 – Ephemeris – The bright planets this week

June 8, 2011 Comments off

Wednesday, June 8th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 9:25.   The moon, at first quarter today, will set at 1:44 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.

It’s Wednesday and time again to take a look at the whereabouts of the bright planets.  The ringed planet Saturn will be visible in the south southwest as it gets dark.   It’s near the bright star Spica to its lower left.  Spica has a blue tinge, while Saturn is yellowish. It will set at 3:12 a.m.   Saturn is a wonderful sight is a telescope with its rings.  The shadows of the rings on the planet and planet on the rings are now near their maximum extent.  Its bright moon Titan is also visible.  Folks with good telescopes and good eyesight can also see uo to fours of Saturn’s fainter moons. Jupiter will rise at 3:40 a.m. in the east. Mars will rise at 4:30.  Venus now rises too close to sunrise to be seen in the twilight as is Mercury.

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