Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 12th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 9:28.   The moon, half way from new to first quarter, will set at 11:55 this evening.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 5:56.

The early evening will be taken up with Venus and faint Mercury low in the west northwest at about 10:15 p.m.  The crescent moon is nearby to the left.  Mercury is above and left of Venus by about 5 degrees, about half the width of your fist at arm’s length.  Mercury is at its greatest separation or elongation from the sun today of 24 degrees angle.  Venus will set at 10:59, and Mercury will set at 11:14 p.m.  Holding forth in the south will be Saturn this evening, the brightest star-like object in the constellation Virgo appearing yellowish to the left of the extremely blue-white star Spica.  Saturn is a wonderful sight in a telescope of 20 power or more.  Saturn will pass due south at 10:33 p.m., and will set at 3:51 tomorrow morning.

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

Addendum

Mercury, Venus and the moon at 10:15 p.m. on June 12, 2013. Created using Stellarium. Note that the moon at this phase (thin crescent) doesn’t show at this scale, so the moon’s position is shown as full.

Saturn and constellations at 11 p.m. on June 12, 2013. Note Scorpius rising to the left. Created using Stellarium.