Home > Ephemeris Program, Jupiter, Mars, Observing, Saturn, Venus > 10/05/11 – Ephemeris – The bright planets visible this week

10/05/11 – Ephemeris – The bright planets visible this week

October 5, 2011

Wednesday, October 5th.  The sun will rise at 7:44.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 7:16.   The moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 2:21 tomorrow morning.

It’s Wednesday and time again to take a look at the whereabouts of the bright planets.  The planet Venus is rather close to the sun in the evening setting 34 minutes after the sun and not really visible. The ringed planet Saturn also hidden in the bright twilight is setting 29 minutes after the sun.  Jupiter is now the prominent planet of the evening sky after it rises at 8:15 p.m. in the east northeast and is seen against the stars of the constellation Aries.  In a telescope it will be accompanied by its 4 brightest moons, and as the planet rises higher Jupiter’s image becomes sharper, and its cloud bands will become visible.   Mars will rise at 2:14 a.m also in the east northeast and is entering the constellation of Cancer.

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

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