Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Friday, December 14th.  The sun will rise at 8:12.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:02.   The moon, 1 day past new, will set at 6:58 this evening.

There is a long and sinuous constellation that’s part of the winter sky.  It is Eridanus, which depicts a river.  The river starts near the lower right corner of Orion, near the bright star Rigel and flows to the right then down near the southern horizon, then it meanders below the horizon.  One has to travel to the far southern United States or even farther south to see the southern terminus of the river, the bright star Achernar.  Writers over the ages have seen here the Nile and the earth circling river Ocean of the flat earth days.  One of its stars is close to us and famous.  It’s Epsilon Eridani host to at least two large planets and the home to the fictional Mr. Spock and other Vulcans of the Star Trek franchise.  Trouble is the star is too young and any earth-like planets would be in unstable orbits.

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

Addendum

The constellation Eridanus the river, both above and below the horizon. Created using Cartes du Ciel.