Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Tuesday, July 30th.  The sun rises at 6:27.  It’ll be up for 14 hours and 43 minutes, setting at 9:10.   The moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 1:23 tomorrow morning.

Mercury is joining the morning planets Jupiter and Mars now.  This morning is the time of its greatest elongation or separation from the sun of 20 degrees, but this planet will actually brighten as it starts its journey back around the sun.  Mercury’s phase at greatest elongation is half illuminated.  As it moves back around the sun the phase becomes fuller.  To find Mercury it’s best to use binoculars.  At around 5:30 look to the east northeast on a very low horizon. First locate Jupiter, the brightest and highest of the three.  Then look below for reddish Mars.  Once found, Mercury can be located by extending a line one and a half times further than Mars.  These planets can be seen until 6 a.m. or a bit later.

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

Addendum

Animation of Mercury, Mars and Jupiter at one day intervals from July 31 to August 7, 2013 at 5:45 a.m. Created using Stellarium and the GIMP.  Click to enlarge and animate.