06/24/2020 – Ephemeris – Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 24th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 34 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:58. The Moon, 3 days past new, will set at 12:27 tomorrow morning.

Let’s look at the naked-eye planets for this week. Jupiter now rises in the evening, tonight it’s at 10:42 pm in the east-southeast. Saturn will rise 18 minutes later at 11pm right behind Jupiter. Mars, is stretching its lead left of Saturn and will rise at 1:36 am in the east. Its now down to 83.4 million miles (134.3 million km) away, as the Earth slowly overtakes it at the rate of about 4 million miles (6.4 million km) a week. Jupiter and Saturn will be hanging out between Sagittarius and Capricornus this year while Mars is slowing its rapid eastward motion now two constellations over in Pisces. Finally, Venus will rise at 4:26 am in the east-northeast low in the twilight as our Morning Star.

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

Addendum

The Moon as seen through binoculars or small telescope tonight June 24, 2020. Note earthshine on the night side of the Moon. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter & Saturn at midnight. Note the Teapot of Sagittarius to the right of Jupiter and the stars of Scorpius including Antares farther right. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

Four of the five naked-eye planets stretched out on this panorama from northeast to southwest at 5 am tomorrow morning June 25, 2020. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification tomorrow morning June 25, 2020. Apparent diameters: Jupiter, 46.96″; Saturn, 18.28″, rings, 42.58″, Mars, 10.99″, and Venus 47.10″. Mars also shows an enlargement showing surface detail. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Cartes du Ciel (Sky Charts).

Planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise of a single night starting with sunset on the right on June 24, 2020. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 25th. The closeness of Jupiter and Saturn in the morning sky unfortunately overlays planets and labels. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.