Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 1st.  The sun rises at 6:32.  It’ll be up for 14 hours and 15 minutes, setting at 8:47.   The moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 2:35 tomorrow morning.

It’s time to check out the two remaining bright planets for this week.  Jupiter is located in the constellation of Taurus, above the V shape of stars, the face of the bull and is in the west during the evening.  It will set at 11:49 p. m. In the west northwest.  Jupiter is still high enough as it gets dark to get a very good view of its cloud bands and satellites.  The four moons that Galileo found are easy targets for small telescopes or even sharp eyed binocular observers.  The other bright planet Saturn will be low in the east southeast when it gets dark in the evening.  It’s located in eastern Virgo, but us moving back a bit toward the bright star Spica to its right.  Saturn will move past due south at 1:28 a.m.  An event called transiting the meridian.

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

Addendum

I’m including Venus in this image at 9:20 p.m., May 1, 2013. I’ll start talking about it on the program next week. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and the setting stars of winter at 10 p.m. on may 1, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn is seen low in the southeast at 10 p.m. on May 1, 2013. Created using Stellarium.