Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Monday, September 9th.  The sun will rise at 7:14.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 8:03.   The moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 10:06 this evening.

The Moon will pass Saturn around noon today.  By 9 p.m.  the Moon will have scooted to the left of Saturn by 10 of its widths or half the width of your fist held at arm’s length.  We are getting to the point that Saturn’s image is being seriously degraded in telescopes because the planet is so close to the horizon and we are looking at it through the very thick atmosphere.  The Moon however is getting better each night and it moves higher each night.  In binoculars the young Moon will reveal two dark seas.  Above is the distinctive Sea of Crises, and  below the Sea of Fertility.  The Sea of Tranquility is partially illuminated, now cut by the Moon’s terminator or sunrise line.  Telescopes will reveal interesting features near there.

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

Addendum

The Moon, Saturn and Venus at 9 p.m. on September 9, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as seen at 9 p.m. September 9, 2013. Rotated the approximate extent for its appearance in the sky. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.