Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for President’s Day, Monday, February 18th.  The sun will rise at 7:37.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 38 minutes, setting at 6:15.   The moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 3:15 tomorrow morning.

The moon will point to Jupiter tonight.  The planet will be a ways to the west or right of the moon.  Actually the moon was closer to Jupiter last night.  It’s closest apparent approach is about now this morning.  But they’re below the horizon now.  My younger granddaughter Bea has made Jupiter her favorite planet because of its red spot.  The Great Red Spot on Jupiter has been seen off and on ever its was discovered by a series of astronomers.  It would fade for many years only to reappear again.  In fact it never went away.  Right now this high pressure system is more a light pastel pink. Back in the 1950’s, and 1960’s I found it hard to ignore in the smallest of telescopes.  Now it takes bigger telescopes to spot.

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

Addendum

Jupiter and the moon at 9 p.m. on February 18, 2013. Created using Stellarium.