01/04/2023 – Ephemeris – Let’s see where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this first week of 2023

This is Ephemeris for Wednesday, January 4th. The Sun will rise at 8:20. It’ll be up for 8 hours and 55 minutes, setting at 5:15. The Moon, 2 days before full, will set at 7:41 tomorrow morning.

Let’s see where the naked-eye planets have wandered off to this first week of 2023. Very early after sunset, Venus might be spotted very low in the southwest, even by 5:45 pm. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will be visible this evening, in the east to southwestern sky at 7 pm. Mars will be in the east-southeast. Jupiter is the brightest of the three in the south-southwest, while dimmer Saturn will be very low in the southwest at that time. Mars will be above Orion as it rises in the early evening. As Orion straightens up as it moves to the south later in the evening, Mars will be to the upper right of it in Taurus near the red star Aldebaran. Saturn, the westernmost of the bright planets, will set around 8:29 this evening.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EST, UT –5 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Venus, Saturn and Jupiter at 6 pm, or about 45 minutes after sunset. Created using Stellarium.

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the Moon at 8 pm tonight, January 4, 2023, in this panorama. Created using Stellarium.

The Moon tonight as it might be seen in binoculars or low power telescopes tonight, January 4, 2023. Labels of prominent features are alternately shown with the unlabeled chart. Created using Stellarium, LibreOffice Draw and GIMP.

Telescopic views of Saturn Jupiter and Mars (north up) as they would be seen in a small telescope, with the same magnification. The image of Mars doesn’t show it, but the white north polar cap will appear at the top or north limb of Mars. The planets are shown at 8 pm tonight, January 4, 2023. Apparent diameters: Saturn 15.70″, its rings 36.57″; Jupiter 38.86″. Mars 14.12″. Mars’ distance is 61.6 million miles (99.1 million kilometers). 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 January 4, 2023. The night ends on the left with sunrise on the 5th. Click on the image to enlarge it. Created using my LookingUp app and GIMP.