Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Friday, March 16th. The Sun will rise at 7:53. It’ll be up for 11 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 7:50. The Moon, 1 day before new, will rise at 8:13 tomorrow morning.

The Moon will very close to new this weekend, so the dark skies can be enjoyed after 9:30 in the evening for hard-core dark sky observers. However after 9 p.m. it’s dark enough for most of us. The Moon next week will rapidly push that back as its phase waxes over the next week toward first quarter. About the first appearance of the Moon will be Sunday night when it will be almost in line with Venus and Mercury. Top right will be Mercury, then Venus, then below and left of brilliant Venus will be the thin sliver of the crescent Moon, whose night side will be illuminated by the Earth. It will take binoculars to really appreciate this Earth shine on the Moon. The full Moon this lunation will fall on the 31st with Easter following the next day for western churches.

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

Addendum

Mercury, Venus, and the Moon at 8:15 p.m. Sunday, March 18, 2018. Created using Stellarium, which was incapable of showing the very thin crescent of the Moon centered at the 5 o’clock limb of the Moon..