Where can you find Mars?

Question

In which general direction is Mars going to be tonight if you live in SoCal (Southern California)? Daygo to be precise (san diego)

Answer 1

west of the moon, its very very bright.

Answer 2

Hi Marco!

You can see Mars tonight in California, 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 8:00 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.

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 those 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 3

I'm going to link you to a website that will be a lot more precise for your location, but I'll also give you a starter on finding Mars.

Mars will be rising in the East after sunset. It is actually just gotten high enough to see over the houses across the street from where I am right now. By around midnight, it will be close to South, and will likely be setting in the West as you approach sunrise. Variations in how high and exact times will vary depending on your location, but those should be good estimates across the board.

Actually identifying Mars...find the brightest star you can find, with a slightly reddish color to it, and you have found it. There will be other bright stars around it. The second brightest star, when it rises, will be South of it, and will appear a very distinct bluish-white color. Go to the link, register for the site (free) if you need to and start entering your location and time and it will give you a view of the sky from where you are, along with the ability to print sky maps if you are interested in finding anything else.

Good luck and don't forget to look down at your feet if you want to see another planet. (sorry, a little astronomy humor)

Answer 4

UFOs come from Mars. Let them find you.