06/17/2015 – Ephemeris – Jupiter and Venus approach each other while Saturn looks on

Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 17th.  Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:30.  The Moon, 1 day past new, will set at 10:14 this evening.  Tomorrow the Sun will rise at 5:56.

Lets take a look at the bright planets for this week.  Our brilliant evening star Venus is in the west by 9:45 p.m. It will set at 12:19 a.m.  Venus’ will slide down to the Sun faster and faster in the coming weeks.  It will take a bit less than 2 months.  Jupiter will appear western sky to the left of and slightly above Venus at about 10 p.m.  It will set at 12:34 a.m.  It seems to approach Venus, and now appears about 8 degrees away.  That’s somewhat less than the width of your fist held at arm’s length.  They will cross paths in 13 days, on the 30th.  Saturn is in the southeast in evening twilight.  It will pass due south at 11:51 p.m. and will set at 4:39 a.m.  Check out Saturn’s rings in any small telescope.

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

Addendum

Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with the late spring southern constellations at 10:30 p.m., June 17, 2015. Created using Stellarium. Click on image to enlarge.

The evening planets using the same magnification at 10:30 p.m., June 17, 2015. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts). Click on image to enlarge. Note that Jupiter’s moons Ganymede and Io are so close their labels overlap.