Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Friday, July 19th.  Today the sun will be up for 15 hours and 6 minutes, setting at 9:21.   The moon, 3 days before full, will set at 3:55 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:16.

Between 5:27 and 5:42 p.m. today go outside and look to the  southeast and smile.  An hour and a half later when the light arrives the Cassini spacecraft, hiding from the sun behind Saturn will take a series of photographs that will include the Earth in the background.  All of us, the Earth included will fit into one pixel in Cassini’s camera.  This is a reprise of the famous back-lit photograph of Saturn taken earlier in its mission.  Closer to home members of the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will be part of Kingsley Heritage Days Saturday and Sunday to view the sun if it’s clear.  Also the society will host a star party at the NMC’s Rogers Observatory starting at 9 p.m. tomorrow night.

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

Addendum

Saturn night side mosaic taken early in the mission. Note the pale blue dot at the 9:30 position outside the main rings and just inside the next fuzzy ring out. That’s Earth. Credit: NASA.  Click on the image to enlarge.