Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 6th.  The sun will rise at 7:27.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 57 minutes, setting at 5:24.   The moon, 3 days past new, will set at 8:25 this evening.

Let’s check out the bright planets.  Venus is brilliant in the west  southwest after sunset.  It will set at 7:46 p.m.  The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 9:27 p.m. in the east northeast.  It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now.  It will pass due south at 5:04 a.m.  Mars will rise at 2:01 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 5 a.m.   Comet ISON is nearly the distance below Mars that Mars is below Regulus and nearly in line with the two.  My guesstimate for magnitude is about 8, about half as bright as current predictions, but probably visible in small telescopes.  Comet ISON will rise about 3:30 a.m. and be visible before the sky begins to brighten around 6 a.m.

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

Addendum

Venus and the Moon at 7 p.m. November 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Closeup of the Moon at 7 p.m. November 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic view of Venus at 7 p.m. November 6, 2013. Created using Stellarium. The faint stripes are not seen in visible light.

Jupiter and Mars with the winter and spring constellations at 6 a.m. November 7, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Comets ISON and Encke and Mars at 6 a.m. from November 5 to 12, 2013. Created with Cartes du Ciel.

Closeup charts of comets ISON and Encke at 6 a.m. for November 6 through 12, 2013. Created using Cartes du Ciel.