Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 12th.  The sun will rise at 8:10.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 5:02.   The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:18 tomorrow morning.

Let’s check out the planets for this week.  Mars can be seen low in the southwest.  It will set at 7:04 p.m.  The planetary action will have already picked up on the other side of the sky. Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus on the southeast in the evening.  It will transit or pass due south at 11:47 p.m, and will set at 7:19 a.m.  Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 4:24 a.m. in the east southeast.  Venus will rise at 6:02 and is below and left of Saturn.  Mercury will rise at 6:36 a.m.  Below and left of Venus.  A half an hour later it should be high enough to spot.  The three planets will appear in a straight line and nearly equally spaced.  After a few days Mercury will not be visible again until next February.

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

Addendum

Mars low in the southwest at 6:15 p.m. on December 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and the winter stars at 9 p.m. December 12, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter with its Great Red Spot November 18, 2012 by Scott Anttila.

Jupiter with Callisto above, Ganymede and its shadow below on December 6, 2012 by Scott Anttila, Click to enlarge.

Saturn, Venus and Mercury at 6:45 a.m. ay December 13, 2012. Created using Stellarium.