Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, March 27th.  The sun will rise at 7:32.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 8:04.   The moon, at full today, will rise at 8:49 this evening.

It’s time to check out a comet and the two remaining bright planets for this week.  Comet PanSTARRS is in the northwest, moving away from the sun, and getting a little higher in the sky as it moves northward rather than eastward.  The comet will set at 10:26.  The comet is now down to near 4th magnitude, as bright as a relatively faint naked eye star.  Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus and is in the high southwest during the evening.  It will set at 1:35 a.m.  Jupiter is a wonderful sight in telescopes with its cloud bands and its moons which change positions each night.  The other bright planet Saturn will rise at 10:43 p.m. in the east southeast.  It’s located in eastern Virgo. It will pass due south at 3:55 a.m.  Saturn is the most beautiful of planets in a telescope.

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

Addendum

Comet PanSTARRS at about 9:15 p.m. from March 27 to April 2, 2013. Note that the comet will pass the Great Andromeda Galaxy in early April. Created using Cartes du Ciel.

Jupiter with the stars of winter in a moon brightened sky at 9:30 p.m. March 27, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn near Spica and the moon at 6 a.m. on March 28th. The moon will be passing Saturn on Friday afternoon, below the horizon. Created using Stellarium.