Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Aug 17.  This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 17th.  The sun rises at 6:47.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 8:45.   The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 10:00 this evening.

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 west southwest as it gets dark.   It’s near the bright star Spica to its left.  Spica has a blue tinge, while Saturn is yellowish. It will set at 10:43 p.m.   Saturn is a wonderful sight is a telescope with its rings.  We are now slowly seeing Saturn slip into evening twilight.  We have very little time of good viewing of Saturn before its image deteriorates by being too low in the sky.  Jupiter will rise at 11:31 p.m. in the east northeast and is seen against the stars of the constellation Aries now.  Mars will rise at 2:54 a.m also in the east northeast and is now passing through the constellation Gemini the twins.

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