Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 10th.  The sun will rise at 8:08.  It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:02.   The moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 9:23 this evening.

In reviewing which planets are visible tonight, it looks like we’re still down to two.  Venus, Saturn and Mercury are still hanging near the direction of the Sun.  It will be a little 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 8:30 p.m.  Mars’ setting time will slowly advance 5 minutes between now and the end of the year.   Normal setting times for stars and planets decrease by 4 minutes a night or about a half hour a week.  Mars is moving northeastward in the sky and is counteracting that.  Jupiter will rise at 10 p.m. in the east-northeast.  The best views in a telescope may have to wait for at least an hour after that.  Jupiter is a wonderful sight in a telescope.

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

Addendum

Mars low in the southwest at 7 p.m. December 10, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and the Moon low in the east at 11 p.m. December 10, 2014. On the evening of the 11th the Moon will appear below Jupiter. Created using Stellarium.

The moon as it would appear in binoculars at 11p.m. December 10, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and its moon as seen in a telescope. at 11 p.m. December 10, 2014. Note that Europa and Ganymede appear very close. They will move closer until 5 a.m. when they will appear at their closest. Created using Stellarium.