How To See Mars In The Night Sky

How To See Mars In The Night Sky

If you've never seen the bright Red Planet in the night sky the next few evenings will be prime for locating it near an approaching full moon.

For those Geminis out there the moon is visiting your house Wednesday evening. Castor and Pollux are the two brightest stars in the constellation and they will be to the immediate left of the moon.

On Thursday night you will be able to locate Mars at the 10 o'clock position from the moon. Notice the difference in color between Castor, Pollux and Mars. Castor appears white and Pollux is yellow.

On Friday night the 26th the moon has moved over to visit all you Leo's. The sickle is like a backwards question mark and makes up the head and front leg of Leo the Lion. On Saturday night the 27th the moon will look like the dot at the bottom of the question mark.

The full moon shines brightly on Sunday the 28th this month. The only time the month of February can have a blue moon is during a leap year when the full moon occurs on the 1st and the 29th. This is a rare occasion that normally only happens every few decades.

Terry Science Geek Edwards

www.FeaturedColumbiaHomes.com

diagram courtesy of Sky & Telescope