Mars displays its mastery
Mars is the planet in the spotlight this spring, reaching opposition on October 14. You can read all about viewing the Red Planet in our opposition coverage beginning on page 58. But there’s plenty of other planetary viewing to be had at the moment, so let’s begin with (mag. 0.0, dia. 6.7”, Sep. 30). The innermost planet will be well placed for viewing in the western, evening sky from mid-September through until mid-October. Watch as Mercury sidles up to the star Spica beginning around September 19, with the two separated by only about 0.3° by the 22nd (see diagrams below). The planet will head toward inferior conjunction (between the Sun and the Earth) on October 26, only to reappear in the eastern, morning sky in November.
