2007-12-26 08:24:58 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Finally had some breaks in the clouds here, so I finally had the chance to see Mars. It will be visible for a while too, so hopefully I will have more chances to see it.
2007-12-26 08:28:34 · answer #1 · answered by Shaula 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is well up at sunset now, but a few months ago you had to either stay up really late or get up just before dawn to see it. But it has been visible for months, not just a few days. And it will be visible for a few more months before it goes behind the Sun from our point of view. Right now it is an extra star in Gemini and will move into Taurus next month. It is very bright; brighter than any of the true stars in those constellations. If you even noticed the stars at all in the last few weeks you have probably seen it. It is hard to miss. But since it just looks like a bright star you probably ignored it.
2007-12-26 18:43:49 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hey neurotic, It's still visibly and will be for a long time. Look in the east after sun set. It comes up at that time and is visibly the rest of the night. Right now it's the brightest thing in the sky except for the moon. Mars is easy to distinguish from the other planets/stars in that it is brownish or reddish compared to all the others.
2007-12-26 16:35:31 · answer #3 · answered by Jackolantern 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mars is visible most of the year (not just one night). It has been getting brighter in our skies for months. And it will be that bright for another few months yet.
People today just don't notice it unless its in the news or particularly bright and near something they do notice (like the moon).
Mars is in opposition (closest to the Earth and therefore bright in our night skies) every 780 days.
2007-12-26 17:35:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Planets aren't only visible at opposition. I started observing Mars in earnest a few weeks ago, and will do so for a few more weeks.
2007-12-26 17:22:01 · answer #5 · answered by laurahal42 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
"...while it was visible a few days ago?" It's still visible, and will be visible every clear night for the next six months. Planets don't just appear and disappear when they get mentioned in the news!
2007-12-26 16:57:29 · answer #6 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it looked like a bright star just below the moon. It was pretty cool if you knew that that specific star was Mars.
2007-12-26 16:28:35 · answer #7 · answered by mcmillae 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes i saw it.It was really very bright.A little brighter than the Star Sirius.And last December 24,2007.Mars is very close to the Moon.
2007-12-27 02:26:23 · answer #8 · answered by ChrisCT 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It looked just like another star! What's the big deal?
2007-12-26 16:28:16 · answer #9 · answered by dianah 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It was quite beautiful wasn't it?
I told my two year old that it was Santa so we had to race inside and go to bed. Worked like a charm!
2007-12-26 16:28:05 · answer #10 · answered by Colonel Obvious AM 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋