The planet Mars is a faint “star” most of the time, but every two years, near opposition, it becomes one of the brightest objects in the night sky!
July,2018 is an excellent month to observe the visible outer planets. The waxing gibbous Moon aligns with bright Jupiter on the evening of Friday, July 20. After that, the Moon draws closest to the planet Saturn on the evening of Tuesday, July 24. Keep an eye on the Moon from night to night as it draws near Mars on the … Continue reading
A Brief History of Mars (Originally published in the Classical Astronomy Update of August, 2003) Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.” — Isaiah 47:13 Mars has always been the subject of mythology, from the pagan … Continue reading
VENUS, MARS AND THE MOON: Look outside this evening to see the dazzling bright “star” VENUS shining in the evening sky. Notice the fainter, yellowish “star” nearby. This is the planet MARS. You’ll easily find these planets on the evening of Tuesday, January 31 when they are joined by the four-day-old waxing crescent Moon. These three bodies will make a … Continue reading
MOON AND PLANETS THIS WEEKEND! Mars has put on quite a show in 2016, and the year ends with an extended “visitation” with the bright planet Venus. Spot these blazing “stars” as the waxing crescent Moon passes by this weekend. And then keep your eyes on Venus and Mars as they draw closer and remain close until February, 2017. These … Continue reading
The bright red planet MARS has been sharing the constellation Scorpius with the planet SATURN in 2016. These two make a pretty sight in the southern sky in the current season, as they move about through this conspicuous constellation. The scene always gets more interesting when the Moon wanders by, as it does each month. But June’s show is only … Continue reading
Keep your eye on the sky before sunrise on the morning of Friday, December 4, as the waning crescent Moon lines up with the bright planet Jupiter in the constellation Leo! Over the weekend, the waning Moon moves into the constellation Virgo and passes by the red planet Mars! But the weekend dance of the planets is just a prelude … Continue reading
MORNING LUNAR CONJUNCTIONS OF NOVEMBER!!!! The waning crescent Moon will swing back into the scene in the first week of November. By then, Venus will be below Mars. Look for the Moon to line up with Jupiter on the morning of Friday, November 6, and with Venus and Mars on Saturday, November 7. KEEP WATCHING CLASSICAL ASTRONOMY TO LEARN ABOUT … Continue reading
MORNING CONJUNCTIONS CONTINUE!!!! After its maximum elongation, Venus begins to move toward the east, and will steadily draw closer to the sunrise through June, 2016. The morning dance of the planets of October continues into November when Venus lines up with Mars on the morning of Tuesday, November 3. Keep an eye on Mars into 2016, as it reaches opposition … Continue reading
MORNING PLANETARY CONJUNCTIONS: On the morning of Sunday, October 25, Venus and Jupiter are lined up in a conjunction, and Mars is still sharing the sky with these brighter objects. On this day, Venus is at its greatest western elongation, and is therefore at its maximum distance from the rising Sun, so these two will be pretty high above the … Continue reading
MORNING PLANETARY CONJUNCTION: Keep an eye on the morning planets in October, to observe their magnificent planetary dance. Mars and Jupiter line up in a conjunction on the morning of Saturday, October 17. But if you are up and around each morning before then, notice the subtle changes in the positions of these bodies from day to day. Start … Continue reading
