Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 12th.  The sun will rise at 7:18.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 39 minutes, setting at 7:57.   The moon, 3 days before new, will rise at 4:34 tomorrow morning.

Let’s see how many bright planets we can find this week.  Mars, Saturn and the star Spica make an elongated triangle in the west southwest in twilight after sunset.  Mars is on the left with Saturn on the upper right and Spica below.  It may take binoculars to spot them.  Spica will set first at 8:57 followed by Saturn at 9:28 and Mars at 9:51.  It’s getting harder and harder to spot these guys each evening. The morning sky features the two brightest planets:  Jupiter, will actually rise before midnight at which will rise at 11:29 p.m. in the east northeast and Venus, which will rise at 3:33 a.m. also in the east northeast.  Jupiter is near the head of Taurus the bull, while Venus is in Cancer.  The moon will be near it tomorrow morning, as it is this morning.

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

Addendum

Venus and the moon on September 12, at 5:30 a.m. Created using Stellarium.

Planets Mars, Saturn and the star Spica in twilight at 8:30 p.m. on September 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

The planets Venus and Jupiter among the winter stars visible ay 5:30 a.m. September 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.