04/02/2014 – Ephemeris – When it’s Wednesday it’s Planet Time!

Ephemeris for Wednesday, April 2nd.  The sun will rise at 7:21.  It’ll be up for 12 hours and 49 minutes, setting at 8:11.   The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 11:41 this evening.

Wednesday is Bright Planets Day here on Ephemeris.   Jupiter will be in the south-southwestern sky as darkness falls tonight.  It’s cruising against the stars of Gemini now, and moving slowly eastward after spending a couple of months backtracking to the west.  It will set at 3:31 a.m. in the west-northwest.  Reddish Mars is in Virgo now above and a bit left of the bright star Spica in the late evening, which it now outshines.  Mars will rise at 8:39 p.m.  It will pass due south at 2:18 a.m.  It’s 58.6 million miles away now.  Mars is 6 days from opposition and 12 days from closest approach this go round. Saturn will rise at 11:23 p.m. in the east-southeast and pass due south at 4:20 a.m..   It’s seen against the stars of Libra the scales this year.  Venus will rise at 5:37 tomorrow morning and be seen in the southeast.

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

Addendum

Jupiter, the Moon and the winter constellations at 10 p.m. on April 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon through a small telescope at 10 p.m. on April 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and moons through a small telescope at 10 p.m. on April 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Mars rising at 10 p.m. on April 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Mars through a telescope at 11 p.m. on April 2, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Mars and Saturn with some spring and summer constellations at 6 a.m. on April 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Mars through a telescope at 6 a.m. on April 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

In the morning Mars currently turns a more interesting face to us than in the evening.  The big dark area on the lower left of Mars is Syrtis Major, which translates to the “Great Swamp”.  I prefer the Latin.  It is the most recognizable dark features on the planet.  Where it appears on the face of Mars depends on the optical arrangement and eyepiece placement in your telescope.

Saturn through a telescope at 6 a.m. on April 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Venus in twilight at 6:30 a.m. on April 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.

Venus through a telescope at 6:30 a.m. on April 3, 2014. Created using Stellarium.