Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 9th. The Sun will rise at 8:19. It’ll be up for 9 hours and 1 minute, setting at 5:20. The Moon, 4 days past new, will set at 8:55 this evening.

Let’s look at the planets for this week. Our only evening planet Mars will be in the southwestern sky this evening and will set at 11:59 p.m. It’s too far away to see much detail in a small telescope. In the morning sky we have Venus rising at 4:40 a.m. tomorrow and this morning is prominent in the southeastern sky as our morning star. In small telescopes it is half illuminated, having its greatest western elongation last Saturday. Its phase will now grow to be gibbous as its size shrinks as it continues its long journey around behind the Sun. Jupiter will rise tomorrow at 5:43 a.m. It is second to Venus in brightness, but second to no planet in size. Binoculars can see some of its biggest moons. Telescopes can see all four.

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

Addendum

Mars and the Moon with the evening constellations tonight at 8 p.m. January 9, 2019. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon as it might appear in binoculars including earthshine this evening. Created using Stellarium.

Venus and Jupiter in the morning at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning January 10, 2019. Created using Stellarium.

Venus and Jupiter with the same magnification at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning January 10, 2019. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on January 9, 2019. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 10th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.