The planet Mars is the fourth planet from the sun and the second smallest planet in our solar system (Mercury being the smallest) and it takes its name from the Roman god of war.
 |
| NASA/Hubble Image |
On the morning of October 6 – at 9:18 AM CST the Red Planet will be
at its closest approach to earth in 2020 - 38.57 million miles (62.06
million km) distant.
This is the nearest
Mars will
come to earth for another 15
years. The
sun will be shining by then so be sure to look for Mars in the
evening sky beginning tonight.
Mars will be at its brightest
beginning this evening thru the evening of October 17. On the oft-chance
you haven’t looked for
Mars in the night sky it is easily spotted with the naked eye as the
reddish-looking star in the early evening eastern sky of the western
sky just before sunrise.
Excepting for the International Space
Station and the planet Venus
and the moon - Mars is the
brightest object in the
evening skies. Venus can only be spotted in the morning eastern sky
while Mars can be viewed from dusk to dawn and will be highest in the
sky around midnight.
If there are clouds – no worries – Mars
will remain in the evening sky for the entirety of October.
And it
won’t be as bright again until September of 2035!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment