Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 24th.  The sun will rise at 7:31.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 4 minutes, setting at 7:36.  The moon is new today, and won’t be visible.

Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets.  Mars and Saturn are in the southwestern sky at 9 p.m. with Saturn to the right and a bit below Mars by 17 degrees, about the two widths of your fist held at arm’s length.  Saturn will set at 9:38 p.m.  Saturn is in Libra, while Mars is in Scorpius.  Mars is closing in on a star that has the identical color, and this year the same brightness, its rival Antares.  Indeed that’s what the star’s name means:  Ant as in anti, Ares the Greek god of war, and the counterpart of the Roman Mars.  They will be closest Saturday.  Mars will set at 10:13..  In the morning sky brilliant Jupiter will rise in the east-northeast at 3:23 a.m., while Venus, will rise in the east at 6:51 a.m. only 42 minutes before the sun.  I’m not sure you’ll see it.

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

Addendum

Saturn with Mars approaching Antares low in the southwest at 8:30 p.m. on September 24, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn in a telescope on September 24, 2014. Of the satellites, only Titan should be visible. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and the winter and the western most spring constellations at 6:30 a.m. on September 25, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and its moon through a telescope at 6:30 a.m. on September 25, 2014. Created using Stellarium.