Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Tuesday, October 30th.  The sun will rise at 8:18.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 6:33.   The moon, 1 day past full, will rise at 6:58 this evening.

Let’s check out the planets for this week, a day early.  At 7:30 p.m. Mars can be seen low in the southwest moving away from the red star Antares, whose name means rival of Mars.    Mars will set at 8:26.  The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter, will rise at 8:18 p.m. in the east northeast.  It is located in the constellation of Taurus.  It will transit or pass due south at 3:54 a.m.  The last bright planet of the night is the morning star Venus which will rise at 5:16 a.m. also in the east.  Venus is now below the hind end of Leo, and entering the constellation of Virgo.  The planets Venus and Jupiter and the winter constellations are a great sight for early risers.  It’s starting to feel like winter in the early morning.

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

Addendum

Mars and stars at 7:20 p.m. on October 30, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Mercury, though labeled, is not visible.  Folks much farther south of us have a better shot at seeing it.

Jupiter, the moon and the stars of Taurus and Auriga at 9:30 p.m. October 30, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Venus with the winter stars at 6 a.m. on October 31, 2012. Created using Stellarium.