Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 8th.  The sun rises at 6:22.  It’ll be up for 14 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 8:55.   The moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 6:06 tomorrow morning.

It’s time to check out the bright planets for this week.  Venus is starting to make an appearance in the western twilit sky after sunset, competing with the bright twilight glow.  It will set in the west northwest at 9:48.  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 11:28 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.  Saturn will be low in the east southeast when it gets dark in the evening.  It’s located in eastern Virgo, but is moving back a bit toward the bright star Spica to its right.  Saturn will move past due south at 12:58 a.m., and set at 6:14 a.m.

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

Addendum

Venus, Jupiter and the fading stars of winter at 9:45 p.m. May 8, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn and the constellations of spring at 10:30 p.m. May 8, 2013. Created using Stellarium.