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!
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
MORNING PLANETS IN OCTOBER: On mornings in October, 2015, you can see the planets Venus and Jupiter in the eastern sky, among the stars of Leo. Look to the east in the morning as the famous constellations near Orion are hanging high above the southern horizon. Also notice that the brightest star Sirius is in the sky, along with Jupiter… Continue reading
LUNAR CONJUNCTIONS THIS WEEK!!! On the morning of Thursday, October 8, the Moon will be closest to the bright planet Venus, and will form a line with all the other morning planets, as shown. On the morning of Friday, October 9, the Moon will be in conjunction with Mars, though it will also be closest to Jupiter, as seen from… Continue reading
OCTOBER MORNING PLANETS! In the month of October, 2015, the Sun is aligned with the constellation Virgo, and four of the five visible planets are to the west of the Sun in the constellation Leo, and thus can be seen in the morning sky, before sunrise. Jupiter and Venus are shining brightly, and are joined by Mars and Mercury! Follow… Continue reading
If you were reading our newsletter in the spring and summer of 2015, you read that we enjoyed a rare extended alignment of the blazingly bright planets Jupiter and Venus. If you missed those newsletters, you can read them in the online newsletter archive. As we frequently explain, Venus and Jupiter are the brightest “stars” visible in the sky, respectively… Continue reading
NO!!! The planet Mars will NOT appear as big as the Moon on August 27!!! This is the infamous MARS HOAX!!! It’s been circulating around the web every summer since 2003! Don’t spread this bogus lie! Instead, share this graphic on your wall! The MARS HOAX started out as a legitimate announcement about the closest opposition of Mars, back… Continue reading
TRIO: VENUS, MARS & THE MOON… The brilliant Evening Star VENUS has been blazing in the evening sky. The red planet MARS has been drawing closer to Venus, as it prepares to disappear into the sunset. Soon thereafter, Mars will move behind the Sun in its orbit, as seen from Earth. Venus and Mars come together TONIGHT, the evening… Continue reading
