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Ephemeris: 03/04/2024 – The evening skies are a-changing
This is Ephemeris for Monday, March 4th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 21 minutes, setting at 6:35, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:12. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 4:30 tomorrow morning.
Tonight at 8 pm Orion is in the south. This will be the last month that we will be able to enjoy Orion in the evening sky, because by month’s end he will begin to dip low in the west in the evening twilight. Even though it’s not quite spring, the central constellation of that season, Leo the lion, is already rising in the east. It has cleared the horizon at 8 this evening. The backwards question mark of Leo’s head, mane and front part of his body is easily spotted in the east now with the bright star Regulus at the bottom. The Big Dipper is in the northeast, also rising higher, and signaling via the Anishinaabek constellation there of the Fisher Star, announcing the maple sugaring season.
The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT –5 hours). They may be different for your location.
Addendum
Looking to the east-southeast at 8 pm we look at three star groups or constellations. From left to right we have the Big Dipper and the Fisher Star in the northeast. Centered in the east we have Leo the lion. And on the right, just west of south, we have Orion the central winter constellation. Click or tap on the image to enlarge it. Credit: Stellarium, and using LibreOffice Draw, and GIMP.
02/26/2016 – Ephemeris – The lion roars into the evening sky
Ephemeris for Friday, February 26th. The Sun will rise at 7:26. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 59 minutes, setting at 6:25. The Moon, half way from full to last quarter, will rise at 10:27 this evening.
Besides the advancing sunset times, there is another sign that spring is coming. That’s the appearance of the constellation Leo the lion rising in the east in the evening. The front of this beast is a backward question mark of stars with the bright star Regulus as the dot at the bottom. That’s his head, mane and chest. His haunches are a triangle of stars to the lower left, the last star is in the east above brilliant planet Jupiter. just clearing the horizon at 9 p.m. One way to find Leo is to remember that cat’s aren’t supposed to like water, though mine have always had a certain fascination with the toilet. Find the Big Dipper standing on its handle and imagine drilling a hole in the bottom of the bowl. The water, falling from the north, will fall on Leo’s back.
Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.
Addendum
How to find Leo with Jupiter and the Big Dipper. At 10 p.m. on February 26, 2016. Created using Stellarium and GIMP.
Bob Moler's Ephemeris Blog 