Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th.  The sun will rise at 8:18.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 5:07.   The moon, at last quarter today, will rise at 1:34 tomorrow morning.

This is our weekly look at the planets.  Venus is brilliant in the southwest after sunset.  It will set at 7:08 p.m.  Venus is noticeably closing with the sun.  It will be lost in the glare of the sun in less than 2 weeks.  Venus is a thin crescent, and we’re at the point where the crescent can be visible in binoculars.  The giant planet Jupiter will rise at 5:56 p.m. in the east northeast.  It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now.  It will pass due south at 1:35 a.m.  Mars will rise at 1:02 a.m. in the east.  Reddish Mars is to the upper right of the bright star Spica.  It will be above the moon tomorrow morning.  Saturn will rise at 4:36 a.m. in the east southeast.  The ringed planet will best be seen in the evening next summer.  There is a comet visible in binoculars in the morning sky.  It’s Comet Lovejoy.

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

Addendum

Venus in the southwest at 6 p.m. on December 25, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

The thin crescent of Venus seen in a telescope. December 25, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and the constellations of winter at 9 p.m. on December 25, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

Apparent traffic jam of Jovian satellites as seen in a telescope at 9 p.m. on December 25, 2013. That actual rotation of the image depends on the telescope. Created using Stellarium.

Mars and Saturn among the spring constellations at 6 a.m. December 26, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as seen in binoculars or telescope at 6 a.m. December 26, 2013. Created using Stellarium.

The track of Comet Lovejoy, which still should be visible in binoculars from 12/26/2013 to 01/01/2014 at 6 a.m. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Note that Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel as free programs.  Links to them can be found at the right under Free Astronomical Programs.