Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:31, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:57. The Moon, at first quarter today, will set at 2:29 tomorrow morning.

It’s Wednesday again and time to look for and at the bright planets. Three of them are in the evening sky. The brilliant beacon of Venus will be visible in the western twilight from about 9:50 p.m. until it sets at 11:59 p.m. Mercury is far below and right of it, setting at 10:48 p.m. Jupiter will be in the south as it gets dark. Jupiter is only outshone by Venus and the Moon. And after Venus sets will have the night to itself as the brightest star-like object until it sets at 3:34 a.m. Binoculars will show it to be bigger than star-like in size. Saturn will rise at 9:46 p.m. in the east-southeast. Mars will rise at 12:07 a.m. and is now outshining Saturn, and in July and August will even outshine Jupiter.

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

Addendum

Venus and Mercury at 10 p.m., about a half hour after sunset, June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.

Venus, the Moon and Jupiter at 10:30 p.m., about an hour after sunset, on June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.

The phase exhibited by Venus in a telescope on June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.

The moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 10:30 p.m. June 20, 2018. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and moons at 10:30 p.m. June 20, 2018. The image shows Europa in transit of Jupiter. A satellite is normally invisible against the face of Jupiter, but its shadow can be seen falling on the planet. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Satellite  Event        Local Date/Time       Universal Date/Time
Europa:   Transit start 20 Jun 2018  9:06 pm  21 Jun 2018 1:06
Europa:   Shadow start  20 Jun 2018 10:57 pm  21 Jun 2018 2:57
Europa:   Transit end   20 Jun 2018 11:20 pm  21 Jun 2018 3:20
Europa:   Shadow end    21 Jun 2018  1:12 am  21 Jun 2018 5:12

Source of satellite events:  https://www.projectpluto.com/jevent.htm

Morning planets at 5 a.m. June 21, 2018. Click on image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn and Mars with the same magnification with an inset of Mars at higher magnification at 5 a.m. June 21, 2018. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Note on the inset image.  The south polar cap is probably larger than shown.  Also with the dust storm in progress the dark features may be obscured.  The dust storm clouds appear brighter than the normal surface of the planet.

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 20, 2018. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.