10/25/2017 – Ephemeris – Looking for the bright planets

Ephemeris for Wednesday, October 25th. The Sun will rise at 8:11. It’ll be up for 10 hours and 30 minutes, setting at 6:41. The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 10:56 this evening.

Let’s take our weekly look at the bright planets. Jupiter, will leave the evening sky and enter the morning sky tomorrow as it moves behind the Sun though not directly behind. Saturn is sinking lower in the southwestern sky in the evening. Saturn’s rings are still spectacular in telescopes, but since Saturn is so low in the sky the turbulence of the thick atmosphere makes Saturn fuzzy and seemingly to go in and out of focus. Saturn will set at 9:27 p.m.

Tomorrow in the morning sky, Mars, heading away from the Sun will rise in the east at 5:29 a.m., Venus, is heading closer to the Sun, will rise at 6:34 in the east. Mercury has moved into the evening sky 10 days ago, but will not be easily visible even at its greatest elongation a month from now.

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

Addendum

Saturn and the Moon at 8 p.m., October 25, 2017. Created using Stellarium

Saturn and Titan as it might be seen in a telescope. October 25, 2017. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

The Moon as it might be seen in binoculars at 8 p.m., October 25, 2017. Created using Stellarium.

Mars and Venus at 7:30 a.m. October 26, 2017. Create using Stellarium.

Planets at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on October 25, 2017. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 26th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.