06/30/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, June 30th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 31 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 6:01. The Moon, 1 day before last quarter, will rise at 1:35 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. It will set at 11:06 pm. Venus will be spending the rest of summer low in the western sky for the rest of summer, and not be a conspicuous as it usually is. Mars can be found in the west-northwest at 11pm. It’s in Cancer and will set at 11:25 pm as it is slowly losing its race with the Sun. Saturn and Jupiter, are seen best in the morning sky. Saturn will rise before midnight at 11:15 pm. It’s seen with the stars of Capricornus. Brighter Jupiter, to the left of Saturn, will rise at 12:06 am. By 5 am, these two planets will be in the south 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 in evening twilight at 10:30, about an hour after sunset. Mars is in the picture, but the twilight is overpowering it. Created using Stellarium.

Mars with Venus setting at 11 pm, an hour and a half after sunset. Also, visible may be the bright star Regulus in the constellation of Leo the lion with the asterism of the Sickle or backwards question mark that delineate the head and mane of the beast. Created using Stellarium.

Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon in morning twilight of 5 am, about an hour before sunrise. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon at last quarter as it might be seen in binoculars or small telescope at 5 am, July 1, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

The planets as seen in a telescope (north up) with the same magnification for the night of June 30/July 1, 2021. Times of the display are: Venus, 10:30 pm; Saturn and Jupiter, 5 am. Apparent diameters: Venus, 11.19″; Saturn 18.29″, its rings 42.62″; Jupiter, 45.30″. Mars has an apparent diameter of only 3.86″ and is not represented. The ” symbol means seconds of arc (1/3600th of a degree.) Click on the image to enlarge it. 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 30, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the July 1st. Click on the image to enlarge. Created using my LookingUp program.