Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 26 minutes, setting at 7:13, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:48. The Moon is new today, and won’t be visible.

Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 7:45 tonight. It will set at 8:52 pm. By 8 pm, Jupiter will be spotted in the south-southeastern sky. The Jupiter should be easy to spot at that hour. Saturn will be dimmer, but a bit higher and to its right. They will be visible into the morning hours, with Saturn setting first at 1:58 am, and Jupiter following at 3:20. Saturn’s rings can be seen in a spotting scope of about 20 power magnification. Though at that power the rings won’t appear separated from the planet, so Saturn will look like an elliptical disk. Jupiter’s 4 brightest moons are spread out, three on one side, and one on the other. They might all be visible in binoculars tonight.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT-4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus in evening twilight at 7:45 pm, about a half hour after sunset. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Saturn at 8 pm, about 45 minutes after sunset tonight, October 6, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 8 pm, October 6, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus, 19.81″, 59.8% illuminated; Saturn 17.48″, its rings 40.73″; Jupiter, 45.55″. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on October 6, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 7th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.