08/30/2017 – Ephemeris – Checking upon the bright planets for this week

Ephemeris for Wednesday, August 30th. The Sun will rise at 7:02. It’ll be up for 13 hours and 19 minutes, setting at 8:22. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 1:38 tomorrow morning.

Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter is sinking really low in the west-southwest setting before the end of twilight. The bright blue-white star Spica, which pales in comparison to Jupiter, is seen below and left of it. Jupiter is moving eastward towards Spica now. It will pass north of Spica on September 11th. Jupiter will set at 10 p.m. Saturn can be seen tonight below, right of the Moon in the southern sky. The reddish star Antares is off to the right of Saturn. Saturn’s rings are spectacular in telescopes. The planet will set at 12:56 a.m. In the morning sky, brilliant Venus will rise at 4:15 a.m. and be visible until about 6:45 tomorrow morning. Mars and Mercury are now too close to the Sun for us to spot.

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

Addendum

The setting Jupiter and Saturn near the Moon at 9 p.m., August 30, 2017. Created using Stellarium. Click on image to enlarge.

The Moon and Saturn at 9 p.m. August 30, 2017. Create using Stellarium.

Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 9 p.m., August 30, 2017. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn and its brightest moons overnight August 30/31, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Venus at 6 a.m. August 31, 2017. Created using Stellarium.

Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on August 30, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on August 31. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.