we're supposed to be able to see mars tonight?

Question

i dont see it though
i thought i saw it and i told my brother to come down and he pointed out that it was moving and then i payed closer attention and it was moving. then i noticed almost every single star was moving. where can i see it. i cant see it at all right now.
i live in the northeast outside of the new york area.
where can i see it?

Answer 1

Hi Xoxo! (giggles)

If you missed Mars last night, then look tonight! You can see Mars tonight in the New York area (where I live) and everywhere in the United States, for that matter, any clear evening until August.

Right now, you can't miss Mars. It's the brightest object in the evening sky except for the moon. Look northeast. You don't need any finders or markers. The brightest star-like object you can see is Mars.

For an interesting contrast, wait until after 8:30 p.m. (in December) when Sirius, the brightest true star, comes up in the southeast. Then compare the two. Mars is clearly yellow-orange, while Sirius is blue-white in color.

With each passing night, continue to compare the two. Over the next several weeks, you'll notice Mars give up its crown as the brightest object in the evening sky. It gradually fades down to the level of an ordinary star over the coming months, while Sirius regains its traditional dominance of the evening winter skies.

All the stars move, imperceptibly, through the evening, much as the sun moves across the sky in the daytime. In addition, Mars moves noticeably from night to night. Try to pick out a pattern with some nearby stars (Mars is in the western part of the constellation Gemini right now, late December 2007). Then watch night after night as the pattern gradually becomes warped and changes. Mars is moving toward the constellation Taurus, and will reach eastern Taurus in the first week of January.

News stories may make you think Mars is somehow incomparably bright, but if you'd like to see how over-hyped they are, wait until after 5 a.m. and look east, when Venus is coming up. Venus, low in the southeast in the early morning sky, is many times brighter than Mars, by that hour heading down in the west.

Answer 2

The trouble with giving directions relative to the Moon is that the Moon is moving all the time, and Mars' position relative to the Moon also depends on where the observer is located. I find the simplest description is that Mars is the brightest object (other than the Moon) in the eastern sky before midnight, and the brightest object in the western sky after midnight. You guessed it: it's right on the meridian (north-south line across the sky) at midnight.

Answer 3

According to our local tv weatherman last nite-Mars will be to the right and down a little from the full moon. So look straight at the full moon -like it's the center of a clock-and Mars should be somewhere about 4 o'clock from it.
It will be the brightest 'light' in the sky except for the moon.
If you can't see the moon you won't see Mars-need a clear sky.
December 2007: Mars Opposition! Mars will not be this close to Earth again until 2016: at a distance of 0.60 AU, or 56 million miles from Earth. Mars rises just after twilight in December. This month, Mars reaches its largest angular diameter of nearly 16 arcseconds. For comparison, Saturn, minus, its rings, spans about 18 arcseconds in apparent diameter this month. Compare the two planets. Mars is 0.6 AU from Earth, while Saturn is 9.2 AU (855 million miles) from Earth. Mars outshines the brightest star in the sky—Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major. On December 23, look for Mars near the full moon. North American observers can glimpse the dark feature Syrtis Major this month, while southern observers can view Solis Lacus. Mars is extremely favorable for telescopic observing this month. From now until April 2008, Mars will be great to view all night long.

Answer 4

Don't worry, you will have plenty of opportunity to see Mars, as a night-time treat for months to come.

It's distance from us will never allow it to appear more than what looks like a bright reddish star---the only difference being that Mars doesn't twinkle (in clear skies)---stars twinkle!

Mars rides quite high in the sky currently, allowing for better observation, because there is less dirty Earthly atmosphere for the light to shine through.

Answer 5

1. First look at the Moon.
2. The move your eyesight up and to the right.
3. You´ll see a fixed bright point of light that doesn´t blink.
4. Get your eyes used to the sky. Have patience. You´ll find marvelous, mysterious Mars!

Answer 6

Hi. Here is a copy of a post I made that may help. Tonight is a VERY special Moon! http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AggJu.aeuWz__OLBYu11G7Hsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071220113634AA4vyhH

Answer 7

to damn cloudy here. Can see ****......The heart beat of Ohio...