Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Ash Wednesday, Wednesday, March 5th.  The sun will rise at 7:12.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 22 minutes, setting at 6:35.   The moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 11:56 this evening.

Wednesday is the “Where are the bright planets?” day on Ephemeris.   Jupiter 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 8:33 p.m., and will set at 4:16 a.m. in the west-northwest.  Reddish Mars is in Virgo now and above and left of the bright star Spica, which it now outshines.  Mars will rise at 10:01 p.m.  It will pass due south at 3:32 a.m.  Saturn will rise at 12:18 a.m. in the east-southeast.   It’s seen against the stars of Libra the scales this year.  Venus will rise at 4:57 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

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

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

Jupiter and its moons at 9 p.m. on March 5, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The Stellarium timing is a bit off.  Ganymede won’t emerge from behind Jupiter until 9:37 p.m.  It will disappear into Jupiter’s shadow at 11:07 p.m. and emerge from the shadow at 1:17 a.m.

Mars rising near the star Spica at 11 p.m. March 5, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The morning planets Mars, Saturn and Venus with the moon at 6 a.m. March 6, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The planets below is how they’d look in a small telescope.  They are magnified twice as much as Jupiter and its moons above.

Mars at 6 a.m., March 6, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn and its moons at 6 a.m., March 6, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Venus at 6 a.m., March 6, 2014. Created using Stellarium.