Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Wednesday, October 19th.  The sun will rise at 8:02.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 6:51.   The moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 12:31 tomorrow morning.  |  Well it’s Wednesday and time again to take a look at the whereabouts of the bright planets.  The planet Venus is still rather close to the sun in the evening setting 42 minutes after the sun and not really visible. Jupiter is now the prominent planet of the evening sky after it rises at 7:15 p.m. in the east northeast and is seen against the stars of the constellation Aries.  It will move due south at 2:07 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 watch.   Mars will rise at 2:01 a.m also in the east northeast and is going through the constellation of Cancer heading to Leo.

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