For the past several months, we have enjoyed the celestial antics of the red planet, Mars.
We have watched as it posed proudly in the middle of Gemini, the Twins, transforming the constellation into triplets by aligning with the “twin” stars Castor and Pollux, and careened past the Beehive star cluster in the constellation Cancer.
Now it closes out its 2008 performance in heavenly fashion, by teaming with the star Regulus, the ringed planet, Saturn, and the thin crescent moon.
Watch for the show to begin early this week as Mars swings past the bright bluish-white star Regulus – the brightest in the constellation Leo. On Monday, the two were less than a degree apart, creating a colorful sight for anyone who aimed a low-powered telescope or binoculars in their direction.
During the week, Mars has been drifting past Regulus and heading toward Saturn. Tomorrow night, the thin crescent moon will join the show, which you can see low in the western sky at dusk.
By Saturday evening, things will begin looking even more impressive. The moon will have drifted eastward along its own orbit until it forms a straight line with Saturn and Mars. It should surprise no one that these planets are aligned like this; they all orbit the sun along roughly the same geometric plane and, from our terrestrial vantage point, appear to trace a line called the ecliptic. It's only by chance that the distant star Regulus also appears along this celestial path.
The next evening, the moon will form a tight triangle with Saturn and Mars. If you aim binoculars in their direction, you'll be sure to get an impressive – almost three-dimensional – view.
The show isn't quite over yet, though. Mars will continue its eastward movement and, on the night of July 10, will pass less than 1 degree away from Saturn.
A fitting farewell, I'd say, for these two planetary showpieces, which will soon be lost in the glare of sunset. But just as one show ends, another begins, and right now, low in the southeastern sky at dusk, a new celestial gem appears in all its glory – the spectacular giant planet Jupiter.
But that will be a story for another time.
© Copley News Service
