Red alert: Mars shines bright

starrygaze · 12-17-2007, 04:31 AM

Red alert: Mars shines bright in December
Planet will not be this close to Earth until year 2016

Mars as seen above Gemini and Orion: The "Red Planet" will come closest to the Earth on the night of Dec. 18 (around 6:46 p.m. EST).
Space.com/Starry Night Software
Space.com

updated 10:52 a.m. MT, Fri., Dec. 14, 2007
Mars will be closer to Earth this month than any time until the year 2016.

The red planet is now the brightest "star" in the evening sky and is already above the horizon as evening twilight fades away. But give it at least two more hours — until about 8 p.m. — for it to climb above the poor atmospheric seeing that's near the horizon. By then, this brilliant yellow-orange world will be at an altitude of around 30 degrees as seen from mid-northern latitudes.

Your clenched fist held at arm's length is roughly equal to 10 degrees, so by 8 p.m. Mars will be about "three-fists" up from the east-northeast horizon. Mars appears much sharper and steadier when it crosses the southern meridian, about a half hour after local midnight. Its altitude as seen from most mid-northern latitudes is then about 75-degrees (more than "seven fists" up from the southern horizon).

Mars is retrograding (moving westward) through the stars of Gemini and will cross over into Taurus on Dec. 30. It will come closest to the Earth on the night of Dec. 18 (around 6:46 p.m. EST). The planet is then 54,783,381 miles (88,165,305 kilometers) from Earth. It is at opposition — exactly opposite from the sun, with Earth in the middle — six days later, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.

It will then gleam at magnitude -1.6, and through Jan. 2, 2008, will outshine Sirius, the brightest star.

Telescope time

Anyone who has a telescope, no matter how modest it may be, will surely be seeing what it can do with Mars right now. No doubt telescopic observers everywhere will be spying out Mars' bright polar areas and dark surface markings. So don't let your scope sit idle, even though the planet will appear small and details might be difficult to discern on nights of less than excellent seeing.

The greatest hits from Mars
See two decades' worth of Red Planet images.
A good 4-inch telescope equipped with an eyepiece magnifying 120-power should show Mars' dwindling north polar cap and at least a few dark features on those nights when the atmosphere is steady.

During January, Mars departs Earth's vicinity as rapidly as it arrived. It will increase its distance from 56.7 to 72.3 million miles (91.2 to 116.3 million kilometers) and in the process will fade almost a full magnitude, from -1.5 to -0.6. But at the same time, Mars will be very well placed for convenient viewing.

Unlike earlier in the fall, you won't have to get up in the early morning hours to see it high in the sky. Mars will be due south just after 11 p.m. on New Year's night, and around 8:45 p.m. at the end of January.

The night that Mars will probably attract the most attention, from even those who don't normally look up at the sky, will be on the night before Christmas Eve: Sunday, Dec. 23. That will be the night of a full moon, and Mars will serve as a companion to it all through that night. In fact, it will result in an exceptionally close approach between the two across much of the United States, while for parts of the Pacific Northwest, southern and western Canada and Europe, the moon will actually occult (hide) Mars

Chase · 12-18-2007, 02:12 PM

Thank you for the night moves, Starrygaze. I like watching the night skies and appreciate knowing about coming events.

Chase · 12-19-2007, 10:46 AM

Darn! Here in my part of Oregon, it rained last night, so no stars or Mars. A break is predicted for Friday-Saturday. Maybe we can see Mars up close and personal then.

starrygaze · 12-19-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chase

Darn! Here in my part of Oregon, it rained last night, so no stars or Mars. A break is predicted for Friday-Saturday. Maybe we can see Mars up close and personal then.

Your welcome!

You will be fine and have plenty time. Mars won't move fast. When you can find a way to see better bright when orion comes out 8 to 10 pm depend on the bright of moon that might hinder your view. Until 3 am to 6 am in the morning before the dawn there is still chance to see orange bright!

starrygaze · 12-26-2007, 12:47 PM

Reminder!

It will then gleam at magnitude -1.6, and through Jan. 2, 2008, will outshine Sirius, the brightest star.

12-17-2007, 04:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
starrygaze Sundog Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shinar (Sumer) Posts: 2,320	Red alert: Mars shines bright Red alert: Mars shines bright in December Planet will not be this close to Earth until year 2016 Mars as seen above Gemini and Orion: The "Red Planet" will come closest to the Earth on the night of Dec. 18 (around 6:46 p.m. EST). Space.com/Starry Night Software Space.com updated 10:52 a.m. MT, Fri., Dec. 14, 2007 Mars will be closer to Earth this month than any time until the year 2016. The red planet is now the brightest "star" in the evening sky and is already above the horizon as evening twilight fades away. But give it at least two more hours — until about 8 p.m. — for it to climb above the poor atmospheric seeing that's near the horizon. By then, this brilliant yellow-orange world will be at an altitude of around 30 degrees as seen from mid-northern latitudes. Your clenched fist held at arm's length is roughly equal to 10 degrees, so by 8 p.m. Mars will be about "three-fists" up from the east-northeast horizon. Mars appears much sharper and steadier when it crosses the southern meridian, about a half hour after local midnight. Its altitude as seen from most mid-northern latitudes is then about 75-degrees (more than "seven fists" up from the southern horizon). Mars is retrograding (moving westward) through the stars of Gemini and will cross over into Taurus on Dec. 30. It will come closest to the Earth on the night of Dec. 18 (around 6:46 p.m. EST). The planet is then 54,783,381 miles (88,165,305 kilometers) from Earth. It is at opposition — exactly opposite from the sun, with Earth in the middle — six days later, on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. It will then gleam at magnitude -1.6, and through Jan. 2, 2008, will outshine Sirius, the brightest star. Telescope time Anyone who has a telescope, no matter how modest it may be, will surely be seeing what it can do with Mars right now. No doubt telescopic observers everywhere will be spying out Mars' bright polar areas and dark surface markings. So don't let your scope sit idle, even though the planet will appear small and details might be difficult to discern on nights of less than excellent seeing. The greatest hits from Mars See two decades' worth of Red Planet images. A good 4-inch telescope equipped with an eyepiece magnifying 120-power should show Mars' dwindling north polar cap and at least a few dark features on those nights when the atmosphere is steady. During January, Mars departs Earth's vicinity as rapidly as it arrived. It will increase its distance from 56.7 to 72.3 million miles (91.2 to 116.3 million kilometers) and in the process will fade almost a full magnitude, from -1.5 to -0.6. But at the same time, Mars will be very well placed for convenient viewing. Unlike earlier in the fall, you won't have to get up in the early morning hours to see it high in the sky. Mars will be due south just after 11 p.m. on New Year's night, and around 8:45 p.m. at the end of January. The night that Mars will probably attract the most attention, from even those who don't normally look up at the sky, will be on the night before Christmas Eve: Sunday, Dec. 23. That will be the night of a full moon, and Mars will serve as a companion to it all through that night. In fact, it will result in an exceptionally close approach between the two across much of the United States, while for parts of the Pacific Northwest, southern and western Canada and Europe, the moon will actually occult (hide) Mars __________________

12-26-2007, 12:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
starrygaze Sundog Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Shinar (Sumer) Posts: 2,320	Reminder! It will then gleam at magnitude -1.6, and through Jan. 2, 2008, will outshine Sirius, the brightest star. __________________

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12-18-2007, 02:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
Chase Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,316	Thank you for the night moves, Starrygaze. I like watching the night skies and appreciate knowing about coming events.

12-19-2007, 10:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
Chase Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,316	Darn! Here in my part of Oregon, it rained last night, so no stars or Mars. A break is predicted for Friday-Saturday. Maybe we can see Mars up close and personal then.