Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, May 6th.  Today the Sun will be up for 14 hours and 27 minutes, setting at 8:53.   The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 11:26 this evening.  Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 6:24.

Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week.  Mercury is low in the west-northwestern sky after sunset.    It’s at a 21 degrees angle from the sun and will set at 10:52.  Our brilliant evening star Venus is high in the west by 9:30 p.m. It will set at 12:37 a.m.  Jupiter will appear high in the west-southwestern sky before 10 p.m.  It will set at 3:05 a.m.  It’s near the sickle-shaped head of Leo the lion, and it’s the second brightest star-like object in the sky after Venus.  In telescopes, Jupiter’s moon Europa will pass in front of Jupiter starting at 1:43 a.m. Saturn will rise in the east-southeast at 10:33 p.m.  It will be low in the south as morning twilight brightens. It’s rings and the moon Titan can be seen in small telescopes.

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

Addendum

Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and the setting stars of winter at 10 p.m., May 6, 2015. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and its moons at 10 p.m. May 6, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Saturn above the southeastern horizon with the stars of late spring at 11 p.m. May 6, 2015. Created using Stellarium.

What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope the night of May 6-7, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Cartes du Ceil (Sky Charts).