Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Monday, September 29th.  The sun will rise at 7:37.  It’ll be up for 11 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 7:26.   The moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:49 this evening.

Tonight we’ll still have Mars hanging around the star Antares.  However we’ll have  the Moon joining the party.  The three will nearly be in line at 9 p.m. with the fat crescent Moon on top, Mars below it and Antares below Mars.  They will be in a straighter line but the Sun out makes them impossible to see.   With binoculars or a small telescope the lunar seas visible, kind of in order from the Moon’s sunlit edge are Crises, Fertility, Nectar, Tranquility and half of Serenity.  If you’re looking for the Man in the Moon, you’ll have to wait until the Moon is nearly full to completely discern his face.  However most of the upside down rabbit is visible.  The seas of Fertility and Nectar make up his ears, Tranquility, his head, and Serenity his body.

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

Addendum

The Moon, Mars and the bright red star Antares line up on the evening of September 29, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The moon tonight September 29, 2014. Created using Virtual Moon Atlas.