Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 4th.  The sun will rise at 8:02.  It’ll be up for 9 hours even, setting at 5:02.   The moon, 2 days past new, will set at 7:15 this evening.

Let’s see where the bright planets are this week.  Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset.  It will set at 7:51 p.m.  The thin crescent moon will be to the right and a bit below Venus tonight.  Venus is itself a crescent, and we’re coming to the point where the crescent can be visible in binoculars.  Venus is as close to us now as the debris from Comet ISON will ever get to us.  The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 7:31 p.m. in the east northeast.  It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now.  It will pass due south at 3:08 a.m.  Mars will rise at 1:31 a.m. in the east.  Reddish Mars is midway between Regulus in Leo and Spica in Virgo.  Saturn will rise at 5:47 a.m. and should be visible low in the east south east by 6:30.

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

Addendum

Venus and the Moon in the southwest at 6 p.m. on December 4, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon magnified at 6 p.m. on December 4, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Venus as seen in a telescope at 6 p.m. December 4, 2013. The crescent will be blindingly bright with no detail. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and some winter constellations at 9 p.m. on December 4, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and its moons as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. December 4, 2013. The orientation may be rotated or even mirror image. Created using Stellarium.

Mars, Saturn and the ghost of Comet ISON at 6:30 a.m. on December 5, 2013. Created using Stellarium.