Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 26th.  The sun will rise at 8:18.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 5:08.   The moon, 2 days before full, will set at 7:27 tomorrow morning.

Let’s check out the planets for this week.  Mars can be seen low in the southwest.  It will set at 7:05 p.m, one minute later than last week because sunset times are increasing and Mars is starting to move northward.  The sun will eventually catch up with it.  Even before you can spot Mars, bright Jupiter will be visible in the east.  Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus in the southeast in the evening.  It will transit or pass due south at 10:44 p.m, and will set at 6:16 a.m.  Jupiter is a wonderful sight in telescopes with its cloud bands and its moons which change positions each night.  Saturn will be the next planet to rise at 3:35 a.m. in the east southeast.  It’s located in eastern Virgo. Venus will rise at 6:37 and is below and left of Saturn.

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

Addendum

Jupiter, the bright moon and the winter stars and constellations at 9 p.m. on December 26, 2012. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn, Venus and the constellations of morning at 7 a.m. on December 27, 2012. Created using Stellarium.