The red planet Mars is becoming more prominent in our late evening eastern sky. It reached its western quadrature 90° from the Sun on 2007 SEP 17 and will be rising before 23:00 beginning SEP 23 for Chicagoland observers and many others. Today (SEP 19) it is at a distance of 1.03596 AU with a diameter of 9.0 arcseconds and 86% of its apparent disk illuminated at magnitude +0.1. It’s similar in brightness to Capella.
On NOV 15 Mars will begin its apparent retrograde motion as Earth begins sweeping past it. The loop that will be formed is demonstrated in my graphic of the Mars apparition at http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Mars closest approach for this apparition will occur on DEC 18 at 0.58933 AU, which is considerably further than the extremely favorable approach in 2003 of 0.37272 AU. Its angular diameter on DEC 18 will be 15.9 arcseconds compared with 25.1 in 2003. Mars’ opposition from the Sun will occur on DEC 24 in longitude, right ascension and elongation. It will then be rising around sunset and setting around sunrise. Its magnitude during this period will be -1.6, which is slightly brighter than Sirius.
Mars will end its retrograde movement on 2008 JAN 30 and reach eastern quadrature on MAR 30. Eventually it will move into conjunction behind the Sun on 2008 DEC 05.
This year Mars may become less bright than in 2003, but its declination of N 26.8° at opposition will be much more favorable for northern hemisphere observers. Enjoy your hunt for Martians!
On NOV 15 Mars will begin its apparent retrograde motion as Earth begins sweeping past it. The loop that will be formed is demonstrated in my graphic of the Mars apparition at http://www.curtrenz.com/astronomical.html
Mars closest approach for this apparition will occur on DEC 18 at 0.58933 AU, which is considerably further than the extremely favorable approach in 2003 of 0.37272 AU. Its angular diameter on DEC 18 will be 15.9 arcseconds compared with 25.1 in 2003. Mars’ opposition from the Sun will occur on DEC 24 in longitude, right ascension and elongation. It will then be rising around sunset and setting around sunrise. Its magnitude during this period will be -1.6, which is slightly brighter than Sirius.
Mars will end its retrograde movement on 2008 JAN 30 and reach eastern quadrature on MAR 30. Eventually it will move into conjunction behind the Sun on 2008 DEC 05.
This year Mars may become less bright than in 2003, but its declination of N 26.8° at opposition will be much more favorable for northern hemisphere observers. Enjoy your hunt for Martians!
For astronomical graphics, including
monthly wallpaper calendar, visit:
CurtRenz.com/astronomical
Curt Renz
