2007-12-25 15:17:45 · 7 answers · asked by Juan V 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Feliz Navidad, Juan!
If you missed Mars last night, then look tonight! You can see Mars tonight, and 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.
2007-12-25 19:58:55 · answer #1 · answered by Anne Marie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Now and for the next few months is will be a bright star visible in the early evening. It is in the constellation of Gemini, just north of Orion tonight. By next month it will have moved into Taurus. All the planets out as far as Saturn are easily seen as bright stars that move from constellation to constellation. That is the basis of astrology, which is much older than astronomy or the telescope.
2007-12-25 23:23:51 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
mars is currently the 4th brightest object in the sky after the sun, the moon and venus. currently mars is in the constellation gemini, you can find it easily by locating orion and then to the left (east) and up (north), (if youre in the northern hemisphere). look for a distinctly bright red/orange "star" -thats it! currently mars is at its closest to earth and will be for the next few months. enjoy the view, get some binoculars or a telescope.
2007-12-26 00:24:31 · answer #3 · answered by mikedelta 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mars can be seen most of the year (not just one day). The ancients saw it and watched it move (just like the other planets). People today don't notice it unless its in the news, or particularly bright (as it is right now) or near something like the moon.
Mars has been getting brighter for several months as it moves closer to Earth along its orbit. On December 18, it was at opposition - the closest approach to the Earth, around 54.8 million miles or about 80 million kilometers - and so is brighter right now than normal.
In fact, right now its closer to Earth than it will be until 2016.
But opposition (when its closest to Earth in our orbits) happens every 780 days.
2007-12-25 23:25:55 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Mars was as close as it will be for several years back on December 18, and is currently very bright, and will continue to be very bright for quite a while. But don't be fooled by any answers you may read here by "top contributors". "Opposition" and "closest approach to Earth" are two completely different things. Opposition is when the Sun and Mars are directly opposite each other in relation to Earth. Closest approach is when Earth and Mars are as close as they will be to each other in their orbits. Opposition and closest approach can happen at the same time, but are not related. This website will help explain why some "top contributors" need to hit the books before they answer.
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/allabout/nightsky/nightsky03.html
2007-12-26 00:35:39 · answer #5 · answered by Me again 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes, just a little below and to the left of the moon
2007-12-25 23:27:09 · answer #6 · answered by Bill 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I saw it earlier this evening north of the moon just after dark. but for a better view please travel north about 10,000 miles.
2007-12-25 23:36:23 · answer #7 · answered by maestro2012 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋