My 3 /12 year old son wants to see Mars and I'm completely astronomy illiterate. I believe that it's supposed to be in the southeastern part of the sky (from Tampa, Fl) but that's all I know. It's partly cloudy but I see a big bright star/planet at about 30 degrees up from the horizon (where 90 is straight up). Is that it? Is it the brightest light in the sky?
2007-09-24 13:45:01 · 7 answers · asked by Vitiran 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Maybe I looked at an old website for the south east. I was looking up tonight (8:00pm EST)
2007-09-24 15:07:19 · update #1
If its in the southwest, before 10 pm or so local time, that's the planet Jupiter.
Mars rises in the late evening in the constellation Taurus, and is brighter than another other object in the sky.
It has a reddish colour and doesn't twinkle.
2007-09-24 14:33:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bright star you see early in the evening is Jupiter. Mars doesn't rise until after midnight this month. When it does rise it will not be as bright as Jupiter and it will look distinctly redder than Jupiter. Mars will rise an a more reasonable hour early next year. It will be brighter then too, because it will be closer to Earth than it is now.
2007-09-24 23:25:54 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mars is out in the East and South East after midnight. It's very bright and orange-reddish. It's the brigtest thing you'll see aside form the moon until morning twlight (when it's in the south West).
2007-09-24 22:42:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to this site and download the software:
www.stellarium.org
This is the best planetarium software that I've come across...plus it is free. You will put in your location and it will show you what you would see in the sky if you were to go and out look. Planets, names of stars, constellations, the locations of nebulas...all kinds of stuff and it is very easy to use. Used it to it see Jupiter a few weeks ago.
2007-09-24 23:52:37 · answer #4 · answered by pharmman 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably not... Mars looks like a noticeably red star and it rises around 11pm a little north of due east.
What time are you viewing it, and are you sure it's in the south east?
2007-09-24 20:59:10 · answer #5 · answered by Arkalius 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I saw that one too & according to my calculations it has to be Rigel.
2007-09-25 16:55:19 · answer #6 · answered by Alexecution: Kickilution 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this site might help
http://www.skyviewcafe.com
2007-09-24 22:10:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋