MARS

BEST TIME TO SEE:

31 December, from 05:00 UT ALTITUDE: 11º LOCATION: Libra DIRECTION: Southeast

Mars remains a morning object heading towards the much brighter planet Jupiter. Mars, appearing as an orange mag. +1.4 star, is outshone by the mag. –1.7 gas giant. Through a scope, Mars is rather small at around 4.9 arcseconds across. The planet is part of a nice arrangement along with mag. +1.0 Spica (Alpha (_) Virginis), a 21%-lit waning crescent Moon and Jupiter on the morning of 13 December. On the morning of the 31st, Mars and Jupiter will appear 3º apart, with mag. +2.8 Zubenelgenubi (Alpha (_) Librae) just south of the midpoint between the two planets.