Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 11th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 18 minutes, setting at 9:27.   The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:18 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:09.

Let’s see what’s happening with the bright planets for this week.  Mars, with its unmistakable bright reddish color, is in the west southwest in the evening in the constellation of Virgo the virgin.  Mars will be setting in the west at 12:34 a.m. It is approaching Saturn and Spica just to its left.  Saturn will be in the southwest above the bright star Spica now.  It will set at 1:26 a.m.  Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 3:08 a.m. in the east northeast.  Venus, is now seen just below Jupiter after it rises at 3:45 a.m.  Tomorrow morning, Venus will appear next to the bright star Aldebaran.  The planets 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.

Addendum

Looking westward at 10:30 p.m. on July 11, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Click on image to enlarge.

Looking eastward at 5 a.m. on July 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Note Aldebaran near Venus.  Aldebaran is the brightest star in the winter constellation Taurus the bull.  Note the Pleiades star cluster above Jupiter.  Well worth a look with binoculars.