Mars in Orion tonight?

Question

Is/was Mars in Orion tonight? I thought I viewed it with my binocs around the left shoulder area around 9 PM EST . I'm fairly sure I viewed Saturn in the eastern sky, and the evening star, Venus, in the west.

Answer 1

There are no planets near Orion at this time. Saturn is high in the south at 9 PM, between Cancer and Leo. Mars is currently in Aquarius, and doesn't rise until after 5 AM. However, you're right about Venus.

Answer 2

Hi Josh!

I'm afraid that would be absolutely impossible.

Right now, in the first week of April 2007, Mars is moving through Aquarius. You could only see it just before dawn low in the southeastern sky. It's hard to find it at all right now (if you're in the Northern Hemisphere).

Contrary to what some wrote, planets sometimes do pass through the northern reaches of Orion, particularly the stars that make up his "club." Orion is not a zodiac constellation, but parts of it lie close, so a planet may still pass through it its path lies a bit south of the ecliptic.

For example, in the second week of July 2007, Mercury will pass through northern Orion. A better example will be in August 2012, when Venus will shine down from Orion in the early morning hours.

Answer 3

Orion is not a zodiac constellation so no planet is ever in Orion. Also, right now Mars is not even in the same half of the sky as Orion. But the red giant star Betelgeuse is Orion's left shoulder. Our left, not his.

And yes, Venus is the really bright star in the west at sunset and Saturn is high in the sky in Leo at sunset.

Answer 4

I don't think so.

When you’ve got Mars in the field of view of your binoculars, put Mars towards the bottom of the view and look up just a little bit in the binoculars, keeping Mars in the field of view, and you’ll be able to see the tiny, most distant planet in our solar system, the planet Neptune. Unlike Uranus, which is slightly bluey-green, Neptune has a slightly more blue colour to it.

So in all, on the morning of the 2nd, if you take your time, you’ll be able to see four planets. That really is quite an unusual opportunity, so please get up and give it your best shot.

If it was too hard for you to find Mars on the morning of the second, don’t worry too much, just wait until the morning of the 14th, and you’ll be able to see the planet Mars just underneath a waning crescent Moon.

Answer 5

You won't see any of the planets in Orion...it isn't in the zodiac! You probably saw Betlegeuse, the star.

Answer 6

The bright red star at the left shoulder was Betelgeuse.

Answer 7

You should find this website handy for finding and identifying sky objects from your location at any time of the night ==>http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/

Answer 8

it could be SIRIUS or BELTEGUESE