Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Monday, January 28th.  The sun will rise at 8:05.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 40 minutes, setting at 5:46.   The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 7:47 this evening.

The planet Jupiter is the largest, most massive planet in the solar system.  It contains more mass that all the other planets, asteroids, and moons twice over.  As Isaac Asimov once said:  “The solar system contains the sun, Jupiter and debris.”  Jupiter, named after the king of the Roman gods, processes majestically through the Zodiac, spending about one year in each of the constellations.  This year it’s Taurus,  next year it will be Gemini.  Saturn, on the other hand limps along, taking nearly 30 years to make the same circuit.  It’s the god of old age.  Jupiter throws its weight around.  It’s responsible for the asteroid belt, keeping a planet from forming there.  It deflects some comets from the inner solar system, but also sends others on in.

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

Addendum

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