Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Thursday, June 21st.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:31.   The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 10:48 this evening.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:57.

Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week, one day late.  Mercury is in the evening sky but very low in the west northwest about 45 minutes after sunset.  It will set at 11:09 p.m. Mars is in the west southwest in the evening between the constellations Leo the lion and Virgo with its unmistakable bright reddish color.  Mars will be setting in the west at 1:33 a.m. Saturn will be in the south southwest above the bright star Spica now.  It will set at 2:45 a.m.  Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 4:10 a.m. in the east northeast.  Venus, is now in the morning sky will rise at 4:45 a.m. In the east northeast.  It’s making its debut as the morning star.

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

Addendum

Looking at the fading twilit sky at 10:30 p.m. on June 21, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

This is just an hour after sunset.  The moon is really a very thin crescent, and is much dimmer than is shown here.  Click to expand.  When expanded the images above and below will appear at the same scale.

The eastern sky at 05:00 a.m. on June 22, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

This shows the sky an hour before sunrise tomorrow.  In actuality Venus is much brighter than Jupiter.