Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Monday, April 9th.  The sun will rise at 7:08.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 8:20.   The moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 12:25 tomorrow morning.

In the south and southeastern sky at 10 p.m. can be found the constellation of Hydra the water snake.  Unlike the monster of the same name this Hydra has but one head, which is its most distinctive part.  At 10 p.m. look to the south.  The head of Hydra is located below a line from the constellation Leo the Lion in the south where Mars is now and Gemini high in the west southwest.  Hydra’s head is a small but distinctive group of 6 stars that make a drooping loop to the right.  The rest of Hydra wends its way just above the southern horizon ending under Virgo below the star Spica and Saturn this year.  Some delineations of Hydra have the tail tickling the constellation Libra which is just about to rise at that time.

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

Addendum

Hydra the Water Snake at 10 p.m. on April 9th, 2012. Created using Stellarium.