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Tonight – April 17, 2017 – look for the rather inconspicuous planet Mars quite low in the western sky as soon as darkness falls. You might see the nearby Pleiades star cluster with the eye alone – or you may need binoculars. Either way, Mars serves as your guide to the Pleiades cluster.
Since Mars and the Pleiades fit (or nearly fit) in the same binocular field of view at present, let Mars help you locate the Pleiades cluster all this upcoming week. Mars and the Pleiades cluster come closest together on the sky’s dome on or near April 22. Remember, Mars and the Pleiades are not actually close together in space; they happen to align near the same point on the sky’s dome.
By the way, don’t mistake the ruddy star Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull, for the red planet Mars. In fact, you’ll probably spot Aldebaran before you spot Mars because this star is about twice as bright as Mars is right now. From most places worldwide, Aldebaran shines higher in the sky and stays out later after dark than Mars does.
In other words, use ruddy Aldebaran as your guide star to the red planet Mars, and Mars as your guide “star” to the Pleiades star cluster. Seek for Mars and the Pleiades as soon as you can after sunset (with binoculars and/or the naked eye) because the celestial twosome will follow the sun beneath the horizon by very early evening. Mars, though a naked-eye object, is a fading ember right now, and it won’t be too much longer before Mars is lost in the evening twilight. (Click here for an almanac telling you Mars’ setting time in your sky.)
Also, on these April evenings, look in your southeast sky for the giant planet Jupiter and the bright star Spica, as depicted on the sky chart below.
The planet Jupiter, the star Spica and the constellation Corvus as they appear at early evening. At late night, folks at northerly latitudes can use Spica as their guide star to the Omega Cenaturi globular star cluster. Read more.
Tonight – and for the upcoming week – seek for Mars and the Pleiades cluster as soon as you can after sunset because the two are soon to fade into the twilight dusk.
2017 is a lousy years for Mars, but wait!
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2nSGfhr
Like knowing when to look up? EarthSky needs your help to keep going. Please donate!
Want PayPal or to send a check to EarthSky? Click here.
Tonight – April 17, 2017 – look for the rather inconspicuous planet Mars quite low in the western sky as soon as darkness falls. You might see the nearby Pleiades star cluster with the eye alone – or you may need binoculars. Either way, Mars serves as your guide to the Pleiades cluster.
Since Mars and the Pleiades fit (or nearly fit) in the same binocular field of view at present, let Mars help you locate the Pleiades cluster all this upcoming week. Mars and the Pleiades cluster come closest together on the sky’s dome on or near April 22. Remember, Mars and the Pleiades are not actually close together in space; they happen to align near the same point on the sky’s dome.
By the way, don’t mistake the ruddy star Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus the Bull, for the red planet Mars. In fact, you’ll probably spot Aldebaran before you spot Mars because this star is about twice as bright as Mars is right now. From most places worldwide, Aldebaran shines higher in the sky and stays out later after dark than Mars does.
In other words, use ruddy Aldebaran as your guide star to the red planet Mars, and Mars as your guide “star” to the Pleiades star cluster. Seek for Mars and the Pleiades as soon as you can after sunset (with binoculars and/or the naked eye) because the celestial twosome will follow the sun beneath the horizon by very early evening. Mars, though a naked-eye object, is a fading ember right now, and it won’t be too much longer before Mars is lost in the evening twilight. (Click here for an almanac telling you Mars’ setting time in your sky.)
Also, on these April evenings, look in your southeast sky for the giant planet Jupiter and the bright star Spica, as depicted on the sky chart below.
The planet Jupiter, the star Spica and the constellation Corvus as they appear at early evening. At late night, folks at northerly latitudes can use Spica as their guide star to the Omega Cenaturi globular star cluster. Read more.
Tonight – and for the upcoming week – seek for Mars and the Pleiades cluster as soon as you can after sunset because the two are soon to fade into the twilight dusk.
2017 is a lousy years for Mars, but wait!
from EarthSky http://ift.tt/2nSGfhr
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