Planets | Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog

Ephemeris: 01/01/2025 – A New Year’s Day look at the naked-eye planets

January 1, 2025 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 53 minutes, setting at 5:13. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 7:02 this evening.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted in the south-southwestern sky by 5:45 PM, about 30 minutes after sunset, and will also be above and left of the thin crescent Moon. Venus will set at 9:10 PM. Saturn will be in the south-southwestern sky at 6 PM, above and left of Venus, which will be seen to cross paths with it on the 18th of this month. Jupiter is low in the east, about the same time Venus is first spotted. It will be a good object for the small telescope. Mars, rises tonight at 6:31. Mars is still considered a morning planet since it is still up at sunrise. But that will end on the 15th of this month, when Mars reaches opposition from the Sun.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Happy New Year! I do really hope it will be happy…

Addendum

This is a 7 PM planet panorama. Venus and Saturn are in the southwest, and Jupiter is in the east. Mars is just rising in the east-northeast. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.

*The waxing two day old Moon with earthshine on its night side. Created using Stellarium.*

Telescopic Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope with the same magnification. All the planets are shown for tonight, Jupiter specifically for 7 PM, January 1, 2025. Apparent diameters: Venus 22.4″, 55% illuminated; Saturn 16.6″, its rings 38.6″, 4.3 degrees from edge on (closing); Jupiter 47.0″; Mars, 14.3″. Planetary surface detail is more subtle than shown here. The ” means seconds of arc, or 1/3600th of a degree. Click or tap 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 January 1, 2025. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 2nd. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

This is a low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow, January 1 and 2, 2025. Some of the columns are self-explanatory, others not. The transit column is the time that the body crosses the meridian and is due south. Elong, for elongation, is the angle between the Sun and that body. RA is right ascension, which is the object’s east-west position on the celestial sphere in hours and minutes. Dec is declination which is the north-south position of the object on the celestial sphere in degrees and minutes. R is the distance of that object from the Sun in astronomical units. An astronomical unit is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. And Delta is the distance of that object from the Earth, also in astronomical units. I omit the ‘m’ in am and pm for compactness. The data was generated using my LookingUp for DOS app and displayed as a table by my Ephemeris Helper app.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 12/25/2024 – A Christmas week look at the naked-eye planets

December 25, 2024 bobmoler 1 comment

This is Ephemeris for Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:07, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:19. The Moon, 3 days past last quarter, will rise at 4:16 tomorrow morning.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted in the south-southwestern sky by 5:30 PM, about 30 minutes after sunset. It will set at 8:41 PM. Saturn will be in the south at 6 PM, way above the bright star Fomalhaut. Jupiter is low in the east-northeast, about the same time Venus is first spotted. It will be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. Mars, rises tonight at 7:44, It will appear above the Moon in the evening. Mars is still considered a morning planet since it is still up at sunrise. By 6:00 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be low in the west-northwest, to the right of the setting Orion, while reddish Mars will be high in the west-southwest.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

This is a 6 PM planet panorama. Venus is in the southwest, Saturn is in the south, and Jupiter is rising in the east. Mars will rise shortly. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.

*Looking eastward at 9:00 PM at Jupiter and Mars among the rising winter constellations. Created using Stellarium.*

*The Moon as it might appear through a small telescope tomorrow morning, December 26, 2024. Selected features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice draw, and GIMP.*

The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on December 25, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 26th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 12/18/2024 – Taking our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets

December 18, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 18th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 48 minutes, setting at 5:03, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:16. The Moon, 3 days past full, will rise at 8:36 this evening.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

This is what I call my 8:00 PM planet panorama. Venus is setting the southwest Saturn heading downwards in the southwest, Jupiter high in the east and Mars just rising in the east northeast. The waning gibbous Moon will rise shortly, trailing Mars. The only thing we’re really missing is Mercury which is close to the Sun in the morning sky. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.

*The Moon as it might appear through a small telescope 10 PM tonight, December 18, 2024. Selected features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice draw, and GIMP.*

The planet Mercury should be seen low in the southeast by 7:30 AM, tomorrow morning December 19, 2024. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope with the same magnification. All the planets are shown for tonight, Jupiter specifically for 9 PM, December 18, 2024. Apparent diameters: Venus 19.7″, 61.1% illuminated; Saturn 16.9″, its rings 39.4″, 4.7 degrees from edge on (closing); Jupiter 47.9″; Mars, 13.3″, 96.3% illuminated. Saturn’s rings are actually much brighter than depicted here. Planetary surface detail is more subtle than shown here. The ” means seconds of arc, or 1/3600th of a degree. Click or tap 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 December 18, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 19th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

This is a low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow, December 18 and 19, 2024. Some of the columns are self-explanatory, others not. The transit column is the time that the body crosses the meridian and is due south. Elong, for elongation, is the angle between the Sun and that body. RA is right ascension, which is the object’s east-west position on the celestial sphere in hours and minutes. Dec is declination which is the north-south position of the object on the celestial sphere in degrees and minutes. R is the distance of that object from the Sun in astronomical units. An astronomical unit is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. And Delta is the distance of that object from the Earth, also in astronomical units. I omit the ‘m’ in am and pm for compactness. The data was generated using my LookingUp for DOS app and displayed as a table by my Ephemeris Helper app.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 12/11/2024 – Where are the naked-eye planets this week?

December 11, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 11th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 51 minutes, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:11. The Moon, 3 days past first quarter, will set at 5:00 tomorrow morning.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted in the south-southwestern sky by 5:30 PM, about 30 minutes after sunset. It will set at 8:25 PM. Saturn will be in the south at 6 PM, way above the bright star Fomalhaut. Jupiter is low in the east-northeast, about the same time as when Venus is first spotted. It will be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. Mars, rises tonight at 8:17, Mars is still considered a morning planet since it is still up at sunrise. By 6:00 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be low in the west-northwest, to the right of the setting Orion, while reddish Mars will be high in the west-southwest.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

*Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and the Moon as they would appear about 6 this evening in this panorama view fron east-northeast to southwest. Created using Stellarium.*

*The Moon tonight as it might appear in a small telescope. Selected features ae labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.*

*Jupiter with Mars rising in the east-noprtheast at 9:00 PM with Orion also rising. Created using Stellarium.*

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 12/04/2024 – Checking where the naked-eye planets are now

December 4, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, December 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 8 hours and 58 minutes, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:04. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 7:59 this evening.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted low in the south-southwestern sky by 5:30 PM, about 30 minutes after sunset. It appears above the Moon tonight, and will set at 8:09 PM. Saturn will be in the south-southeast at 6 PM. Jupiter will rise at 5:09 PM in the east-northeast, and be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. Mars, rises tonight at 8:47, Both Mars and Jupiter are considered morning planets, since they are still up at sunrise, though Jupiter will be an evening planet after Saturday. By 6:00 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be in the west, above and right of Orion, while reddish Mars will be high in the southwest. Jupiter and Saturn are great planets to view with a small telescope.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Venus will appear above the waxing crescent moon this evening. This is their separation at 5:30 PM from Northern Michigan. The Moon will be moving to the upper left compared to Venus. Created using Stellarium.

*The Moon tonight as it might appear in a small telescope. Selected features ae labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.*

*Venus and Saturn as they would appear about 6:30 this evening. The Moon is lost in the bloated image of Venus. Created using Stellarium.*

*Jupiter with Mars rising in the east at 9:00 PM with Orion also rising. Created using Stellarium.*

*By 6:00 AM the winter stars and Jupiter have moved into the west with Orion about to set. Jupiter is seen in the West with Mars high up in the southwest. Created using Stellarium.*

The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on December 4, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 5th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

This is a low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow, December 4 and 5, 2024. Some of the columns are self-explanatory, others not. The transit column is the time that the body crosses the meridian and is due south. Elong, for elongation, is the angle between the Sun and that body. RA is right ascension, which is the object’s east-west position on the celestial sphere in hours and minutes. Dec is declination which is the north-south position of the object on the celestial sphere in degrees and minutes. R is the distance of that object from the Sun in astronomical units. An astronomical unit is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. And Delta is the distance of that object from the Earth, also in astronomical units. I omit the ‘m’ in am and pm for compactness. The data was generated using my LookingUp for DOS app and displayed as a table by my Ephemeris Helper app.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 12/03/2024 – Jupiter begins to dominate the evening sky

December 3, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Tuesday, December 3rd. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours even, setting at 5:02, and it will rise tomorrow at 8:03. The Moon, 2 days past new, will set at 6:48 this evening.

The bright star that’s in the east early in the evenings isn’t a star at all, but the planet Jupiter. This giant planet is moving to be in opposition to the Sun this Saturday, which means that the Earth is directly between Jupiter and the Sun, so it’s the time that it’s closest to us. And so it’s at its largest appearing and brightest. Jupiter is the largest of the planets being about 11 times the Earth’s diameter, its volume would be 11 cubed or about 1,300 times the Earth’s volume. It is the second-brightest planet after Venus. It is also the largest appearing planet in telescopes except for a couple of months around the time when Venus is closest to the Earth. Binoculars will show that Jupiter is not quite star-like, and some of its large satellites can be also seen.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Jupiter is now seen low in the east in the early evening. It is currently located between the horns of Taurus the bull and it will stay wandering in there through the rest of its appearance until spring when it moves towards the horn tips as it sets in the west in the evening twilight. The next time we’ll see it late next year it will be in the constellation of Gemini. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

A size comparison between Jupiter, the Earth and Moon — *A size comparison between Jupiter the Earth and Moon. Feel insignificant yet? Credit: NASA.*

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter

Ephemeris: 11/27/2024 – Checking up on the naked-eye planets this week

November 27, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 9 minutes, setting at 5:05, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:57. The Moon, 4 days before new, will rise at 5:23 tomorrow morning.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted low in the south-southwestern sky by 5:30 PM, about 25 minutes after sunset. It will set at 7:52. Saturn will be in the south-southeast at 6 PM. Jupiter will rise at 5:45 PM in the east northeast, and be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. Mars, rises tonight near 9:16, Both Mars and Jupiter are considered morning planets, since they are still up at sunrise. By 6 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be in the west, above and right of Orion, while reddish Mars will be high in the southwest. Jupiter and Saturn are good planets to view with a small telescope, Mars will appear only a quarter the diameter of Jupiter.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

This is where Venus will appear in the south-southwest at about 5:30 PM or about 25 minutes after sunset. Venus is now in the part of the ecliptic where the planets travel northward as it moves eastward. So It will be seeing it higher in the sky when it’s first spotted in the evening. Created using Stellarium.

*Saturn and Jupiter at 8 PM tonight, November 27, 2024. Off to the right beyond the image, Venus setting in the southwest. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.*

Low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions — This is a low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow, November 27 and 28, 2024. Some of the columns are self-explanatory, others not. The transit column is the time that the body crosses the meridian and is due south. Elong, for elongation, is the angle between the Sun and that body. RA is right ascension, which is the object’s east-west position on the celestial sphere in hours and minutes. Dec is declination which is the north-south position of the object on the celestial sphere in degrees and minutes. R is the distance of that object from the Sun in astronomical units. An astronomical unit is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. And Delta is the distance of that object from the Earth, also in astronomical units. I omit the ‘m’ in am and pm for compactness. The data was generated using my LookingUp for DOS app and displayed as a table by my Ephemeris Helper app.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 11/20/2024 – Our weekly look at the naked-eye planets

November 20, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 20th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 22 minutes, setting at 5:09, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:48. The Moon, 2 days before last quarter, will rise at 9:45 this evening.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted low in the southwestern sky by 5:30 PM, about 20 minutes after sunset. It will set at 7:41. Saturn will be in the south-southeast at 6 PM. Jupiter will rise at 6:11 PM in the east northeast, and be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. Mars, rises tonight near 9:36, just ahead of the Moon and will be leading it through the night skies tonight. By 6:00 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be in the west, above and right of Orion, while reddish Mars will be high in the southwest to the right of the waning gibbous Moon. Jupiter and Saturn are good planets to view with a small telescope, Mars will appear only a quarter the diameter of Jupiter.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

This is where Venus will appear in the south-southwest at about 5:30 PM or about 20 minutes after sunset. Venus is now in the part of the ecliptic where the planets travel northward as it moves eastward. So It will be seeing it higher in the sky when it’s first spotted in the evening. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn finder animation — *Saturn and the star Fomalhaut as they would appear at 8 PM this evening in the south. This is a chart from yesterday’s post. There is no real change from then. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.*

A finder animation for Jupiter, Mars and the Moon for 10:30 PM this evening, November 20, 2024. They’re located among the winter constellations that are rising in the late evening. We are a month and a day from the beginning of winter. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.

*The Moon as it might appear through a small telescope tonight, November 20, 2024. Selected features are labeled. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice draw, and GIMP.*

Telescopic Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope with the same magnification. All the planets are shown for tonight, November 20, 2024 at 11 PM EST. Apparent diameters: Venus 16.0″, 71.1% illuminated; Saturn 17.8″, its rings 41.3″, 5.2 degrees from edge on (starting to close again); Jupiter 47.8″; Mars, 10.7″, 91.0% illuminated. Saturn’s rings are actually much brighter than depicted here. Planetary surface detail is more subtle than shown here. Jupiter’s moon Ganymede is behind the planet, but will appear on the Io and Eurolpa side of the planet at 11:16 PM. The ” symbol means seconds of arc, or 1/3600th of a degree. Click or tap 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 November 20, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 21st. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

Low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow — This is a low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow, November 20 and 21, 2024. Some of the columns are self-explanatory, others not. The transit column is the time that the body crosses the meridian and is due south. Elong, for elongation, is the angle between the Sun and that body. RA is right ascension, which is the object’s east-west position on the celestial sphere in hours and minutes. Dec is declination which is the north-south position of the object on the celestial sphere in degrees and minutes. R is the distance of that object from the Sun in astronomical units. An astronomical unit is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. And Delta is the distance of that object from the Earth, also in astronomical units. I omit the ‘m’ in am and pm for compactness. The data was generated using my LookingUp for DOS app and displayed as a table by my Ephemeris Helper app.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets Tags: Jupiter, Mars, Moon, Saturn, Venus

Ephemeris: 11/13/2024 – Looking for the naked-eye planets this week

November 13, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 13th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 38 minutes, setting at 5:16, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:39. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 6:03 tomorrow morning.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted low in the southwestern sky by 6 PM, about 45 minutes after sunset. It will set at 7:30. Saturn will be in the south-southeast at 7 PM. Jupiter will rise at 6:42 PM in the east northeast, and be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. By 6:00 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be high in the west, above and right of Orion, while reddish Mars, which rises tonight near 9:56, will be high in the south-southwest. Jupiter and Saturn are good planets to view with a small telescope, while Venus and Mars will appear very small and featureless. These last two will improve next year when they move closer to us.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.

Addendum

Venus as it might appear tonight at 6 PM, about 45 minutes after sunset, low in the southwest. Venus is now as far South in the sky as it will get and will now begin to move northward. From now until the end of the year it will rise higher and higher in the sky in the evening. Its greatest eastern separation, or elongation, from the Sun will occur on January 2nd. Created using Stellarium.

*Saturn, the Moon with Jupiter rising at 7 PM. Off to the right beyond the image, Venus setting in the southwest. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using Stellarium.*

*The Moon as it might appear through a small telescope tonight, November 13, 2024. Selected features are labeled. Created using stellarium, LibreOffice draw, and GIMP.*

*Jupiter and Mars among the stars of winter seen in the southwestern sky at 6 AM, or about an hour and a half before sunrise, tomorrow morning November 14, 2024. Created using Stellarium.*

Telescopic Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope with the same magnification. All the planets except Mars are shown for tonight, November 13, 2024, Mars for tomorrow morning the 14th. Apparent diameters: Venus 15.3″, 73.3% illuminated; Saturn 18.0″, its rings 41.9″, 5.3 degrees from edge on (starting to close again); Jupiter 47.4″; Mars, 10.2″, 90.1% illuminated. Saturn’s rings are actually much brighter than depicted here. Plan etary surface detail is more subtle than shown here. The ” means seconds of arc, or 1/3600th of a degree. *Click or tap 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 November 13, 2024. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 14th. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.

This is a low precision ephemeris of the Sun Moon and naked eye planet positions for today and tomorrow, November 13 and 14, 2024. Some of the columns are self-explanatory, others not. The transit column is the time that the body crosses the meridian and is due south. Elong, for elongation, is the angle between the Sun and that body. RA is right ascension, which is the object’s east-west position on the celestial sphere in hours and minutes. Dec is declination which is the north-south position of the object on the celestial sphere in degrees and minutes. R is the distance of that object from the Sun in astronomical units. An astronomical unit is about 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers. And Delta is the distance of that object from the Earth, also in astronomical units. I omit the ‘m’ in am and pm for compactness. The data was generated using my LookingUp for DOS app and displayed as a table by my Ephemeris Helper app.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, Naked-eye planets, Observing, Planets

Ephemeris: 11/06/2024 – Where are the naked eye planets this week?

November 6, 2024 bobmoler Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, November 6th. Today the Sun will be up for 9 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:24, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:29. The Moon, 3 days before first quarter, will set at 8:56 this evening.

Let’s take our weekly look at the whereabouts of the naked-eye planets. Venus can be spotted low in the southwestern sky by 6 PM, about half an hour after sunset. It will set at 7:22. Saturn will be in the southeast at 7 PM. Jupiter will rise at 7:17 PM in the east northeast, and be a good object for the small telescope about an hour later. By 6:00 AM tomorrow Jupiter will be high in the west southwest, among the winter stars, while reddish Mars, which rises tonight near 10:16, will be high in the south. Jupiter and Saturn are good planets to view with a small telescope, while Venus and Mars will appear very small and featureless. These last two will improve next year when they move closer to us.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT – 5 hours). Times will be different for other locations.