06/23/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week

This is Bob Moler with Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 23rd. 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, 1 day before full, will set at 5:30 tomorrow morning.

Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus can be spotted low in the west-northwest twilight by 10 pm or a little after. Venus will set at 11:07 pm. Mars can be found in the west-northwest at 11pm, It’s in Cancer and is currently passing in front of the Beehive star cluster which can be spotted in a pair of binoculars. Mars will set at 11:38 pm as it is slowing losing its race with the Sun. Saturn and Jupiter, are in the morning sky. Saturn will actually rise before midnight at 11:44 pm. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 12:34 am. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the south and south-southeast in the morning twilight.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT-4). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus and Mars in Evening twilight, seen at 10:30 pm, about an hour after sunset. Venus is about 5 1/2 degrees in altitude above a sea or lake horizon. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon tonight at 10:30 pm, approximately 16 hours before actual full moon. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon tomorrow morning at 5 am, about an hour before sunrise. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using Stellarium.

The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification for the night of June 23/24, 2021. Times of the display are: Venus, 10:30 pm; Saturn and Jupiter, 5 am. Apparent diameters: Venus, 10.94″; Saturn 18.16″, its rings 42.29″; Jupiter, 44.38″. Mars has an apparent diameter of only 3.91″ and is not represented. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) 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 23, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 24th. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.