Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, July 18th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 9:22.   The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:53 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:15.

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 12:14 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 12:59 a.m.  Jupiter, now a morning planet will rise at 2:45 a.m. in the east northeast.  Venus, is now seen just below Jupiter after it rises at 3:31 a.m.  Tomorrow morning, the bright star Aldebaran will appear between the two before twilight gets too bright before 5 a.m.  All these planets except Mars, which is too small,  are great to view in a telescope.

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

Addendum

Mars and Saturn in Virgo at 10:30 p.m. on July 18, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Venus at 5 a.m. on July 19, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Venus and Jupiter are noticeably separating.