Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, February 5th.  The sun will rise at 7:56.  It’ll be up for 10 hours and 1 minute, setting at 5:57.   The moon, 1 day before first quarter, will set at 1:10 tomorrow morning.

Let’s take our weekly look at the planets.  Tiny Mercury is 4 days after its greatest eastern elongation and is seen low in the west-southwest between sunset and 7:25, when it sets.  After that Jupiter takes over the evening sky.  It will be in the southeastern sky as darkness falls tonight.  It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now.  It will pass due south at 10:28 p.m., and will set at 6:11 a.m. in the west-northwest.  Mars will rise at 11:37 p.m. in the east-southeast.  Reddish Mars is in Virgo now and above the bright star Spica, which it now outshines.  Saturn will rise at 2:06 a.m. in the east-southeast.   It’s seen against Libra the scales this year.  Venus will rise at 5:38 tomorrow morning, and shines brightly in the southeast before sunrise.

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

Addendum

Mercury, its orbit and the ecliptic (you’ll only see Mercury) at 6:30 p.m. on February 5, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter, the Moon and the constellations of winter at 9 p.m. February 5, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon at 9 p.m. February 5, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and it’s satellites at 9 p.m. February 5, 2014. The satellites from left to right are Ganymede, Europa, Callisto and Io) Callisto may not be visible against the face of Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.

Mars, Saturn, and Venus at 6:30 a.m. February 6, 2014 along with imaginary lines of Venus’ orbit and the ecliptic. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn and its satellites at 6:30 a.m. February 6, 2014. You’ll need a big telescope to see any satellites other than Titan. Created using Stellarium.

Venus through a telescope. The planet is getting smaller and its crescent is getting fatter as it moves away from the Earth. Created using Stellarium.

Sorry for the late post, but I was watching the Bill Nye – Ken Ham creationist debate last night.  Bill took him apart like Inherit the Wind 2.