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06/27/12012 – Ephemeris – Where are the bright planets this week?

June 27, 2012 Comments off

Wednesday, June 27th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 32 minutes, setting at 9:31.   The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:40 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:59.

Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week.  Mercury is in the evening sky but very low in the west northwest about 45 minutes after sunset.  It will set at 11:04 p.m. Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening entering the constellation of Virgo the virgin.  Mars will be setting in the west at 1:15 a.m. Saturn will be in the south southwest above the bright star Spica now.  It will set at 2:21 a.m.  Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 3:53 a.m. in the east northeast.  Venus, is now seen below Jupiter after it rises at 4:23 a.m.  [They are striking in telescopes with Venus as a large thin crescent, and Jupiter with its cloud bands and satellites.]

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.  Bracketed text was omitted from the audio program due to time constraints.

Addendum

Mercury, Mars and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. on June 27, 2012.  Created using Stellarium.

Mercury, Mars and Saturn at 10:30 p.m. on June 27, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

The eastern sky with Jupiter and Venus. at 5:15 a.m. June 28, 2012.  Created using Stellarium.

The eastern sky with Jupiter and Venus. at 5:15 a.m. June 28, 2012. Created using Stellarium.