Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 30th.  The sun will rise at 8:17.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 16 minutes, setting at 6:33.   The moon, half way from last quarter to new, will rise at 5:01 tomorrow morning.

Let’s check out the bright planets.  Venus is brilliant in the west  southwest after sunset.  Friday it will be at its greatest separation or elongation from the sun.  Venus will set at 8:44 p.m.  The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 10:55 p.m. in the east northeast.  It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now.  It will pass due south at 6:31 a.m.  Mars will rise at 3:08 a.m. also in the east northeast.  Reddish Mars is below and left of the slightly brighter star Regulus in Leo now.  It’s in the east at 6 a.m.   Comet ISON is two-thirds the distance below Mars that Mars is below Regulus and nearly in line with the two.  My guesstimate for magnitude is about 9, probably visible in telescopes.  I haven’t seen it since earlier this month.

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

Addendum

Venus in twilight at 7:15 p.m. on October 30, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Mars at 6:30 a.m. October 31, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Closeup of the Moon at 6:30 a.m. on October 31, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Comet ISON for October 30 to November 5, 2013. Created using Cartes du Ciel.

Click on the images to enlarge.