Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 9th.  The sun will rise at 8:18.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 3 minutes, setting at 5:21.   The moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 6:56 tomorrow morning.

Let’s check out the planets for this week.  Mars can be seen low in the southwest.  It will set at 7:09 p.m, two minutes later than last week because sunset times are increasing and Mars is moving 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 and moves from the east to the high south during the evening.  It will transit or pass due south at 9:44 p.m, and will set at 5:15 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 2:45 a.m. in the east southeast.  It’s located in eastern Virgo. Venus will rise at 7:03.

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

Addendum

Jupiter and the winter stars and constellations at 9 p.m. on January 9, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn and Venus in morning twilight at 7:30 a.m. on January 10, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

A closeup of Venus and the moon at 7:30 a.m. January 10, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

In actuality the cusps of the crescent will extend to the moon’s poles.  Planetarium programs generally have a problem with this on extremely thin crescents.