Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Memorial Day, Monday, May 27th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 9:16.   The moon, 2 days past full, will rise at 11:51 this evening.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:02.  |  Tonight the planets Jupiter and Venus will appear close together in the west northwest after 10 p.m. With Mercury above them and to the left.  Find a spot with a low western horizon to check them out.  The grouping will break up from there.  But in the days to come keep checking out Venus and Mercury.  A week ago I was doing some telescope work at the Leelanau School’s Lanphier Observatory on the shore of Sleeping Bear bay.  It was a gorgeously clear night.  Twilight was fading.  The fat crescent moon was high in the southwest, with Jupiter in the west.  Venus was visible just above the horizon.  A great many stars were visible too.  The sight took this old astronomer’s breath away.

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

Update:  I spotted the three last night in that tight triangle in a binocular field.   Venus was easiest to spot, then Jupiter and Mercury.  It was a gorgeous sight.

Addendum

Dance of the planets Jupiter, Venus and Mercury, May 21 thru May 28, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Click on the image to start animation.