Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 26th.  The sun will rise at 7:53.  It’ll be up for 9 hours and 12 minutes, setting at 5:06.   The moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 9:41 this evening.

In reviewing which planets are visible tonight, it looks like we’re down to two.  Venus, Saturn and Mercury are hanging around near the direction of the Sun.  It will be a while before we see them again.  However we can see Mars, which will be low in the southwest at 7 p.m.  It will set at 8:29 p.m.  Mars’ setting time will slowly advance only 6 minutes between now and the end of the year.   Jupiter will rise at 10:54 p.m. in the east-northeast.  The best telescopic views will have to wait a couple of hours after that.  So if you’re more of an early bird rather than a night owl it might be better to view Jupiter with a telescope in the morning.  Jupiter has those four bright moons that change position daily, and sometimes while you watch.

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

Addendum

Mars with the crescent Moon at 7 p.m. on November 26, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The crescent moon as it would appear in binoculars at 7 p.m. on November 26, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter rising with the winter constellations at 11:30 p.m. on November 26, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter with the winter constellations at 6:30 a.m. on November 27, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter as seen in a telescope at 6:30 a.m. on November 27, 2014. Created using Stellarium.