09/29/2021 – Ephemeris – Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, September 29th. Today the Sun will be up for 11 hours and 47 minutes, setting at 7:26, and it will rise tomorrow at 7:39. The Moon, 1 day past last quarter, will rise at 12:40 tomorrow morning.

Let’s search for the naked-eye planets for this week. Venus should be visible in the southwestern evening twilight by 7:45 tonight. It will set at 8:59 pm. By 8 pm, Jupiter will be spotted in the southeastern sky. The Jupiter should be easy to spot at that hour. Saturn will be dimmer, but a bit higher and to its right. They will be visible into the morning hours, with Saturn setting first at 2:26 am, with Jupiter following at 3:49. Saturn’s rings can be seen in a spotting scope of about 20 power magnification. Though at that power the rings won’t appear separated from the planet, so Saturn will look like an elliptical disk. Jupiter’s four brightest moons are spread out, two on each side. They all might be visible in binoculars tonight.

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

Addendum

Venus in evening twilight at 7:45 pm, about a half hour after sunset tonight, September 29, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

Jupiter and Saturn in the southeast at 8 pm. Created using Stellarium.

Low magnification view of the waxing crescent Moon as it would appear at 6:30 am tomorrow, September 30, 2021. Created using Stellarium.

Telescopic views of the bright planets (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification, this evening at 8 pm, September 29, 2021. Apparent diameters: Venus, 18.65″, 62.6% illuminated; Saturn 17.68″, its rings 41.18″; Jupiter, 46.41″. 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).

The naked-eye planets and the Moon at sunset and sunrise on a single night, starting with sunset on the right on September 29, 2021. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 30th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp program.