Archive
10/12/11 – Ephemeris – The bright planets this week
Wednesday, October 12th. The sun will rise at 7:53. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 10 minutes, setting at 7:03. The moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 7:00 this evening.
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 38 minutes after the sun and not really visible. Jupiter is now the prominent planet of the evening sky after it rises at 7:45 p.m. in the east northeast and is seen against the stars of the constellation Aries. It will move due south at 2:34 a.m. 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. The moons and planetary features change from night to night and sometimes while you look. Mars will rise at 2:09 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.