Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 23rd.  The Sun will rise at 7:30.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 7 minutes, setting at 7:38.   The Moon, 2 days past first quarter, will set at 3:09 tomorrow morning.

Lets look at the planets for this first day of autumn.  Saturn is alone in the evening sky spotted by 9 p.m. low in the southwestern sky near the bright star Antares to its left.  Antares has a reddish hue, while Saturn is brighter and yellowish.  Both these colors are enhanced by being low to the horizon.  Saturn will set at 10:13 p.m.  The rest of the planet action has moved to the morning sky.  Venus, the morning star, will rise at 4:09 a.m. a bit north of east.  Much dimmer Mars will rise at 4:44 a.m. in the east-northeast.  Jupiter is beginning to be visible in the morning sky and will rise at 5:37 in the east-northeast.  Mercury, though in the evening sky, sets too soon after the Sun to be visible.

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

Addendum

Saturn and the Moon with setting southern summer stars at 8:30 p.m. on September 23, 2015. The Moon is shown twice actual size.  Created using Stellarium.

What Saturn and its moons might appear like in a telescope at 8:30 p.m., September 23, 2015. Small telescopes will show only the moon Titan. Created using Stellarium.  The telescopic planet charts are all displayed at the same scale.

The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 8:30 p.m. September 23, 2015. Created using Stellarium.

Venus, Mars and Jupiter with the constellation Leo at 6:30 a.m. September 24, 2015. Created using Stellarium.

Venus in a telescope at 6:30 a.m. September 24, 2015. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and moons in a telescope at 6:30 a.m. September 24, 2015. Created using Stellarium.

This is a chart showing the sunrise and sunset skies for September 23, 2015 showing the location of the planets and the Moon at that time. Created using my LookingUp program. Click on the image to enlarge.