Mars low down in evening sky

[trynda1701]

Tonight, at 17;30GMT, as I looked out a south west facing upstairs window to check on the weather, I spotted Mars low down with the naked eye in Sagittarius. I was surprised to see the planet this far on its apparition. I know it passed Antares weeks ago, but the bad weather we've all been experiencing meant I missed that.

Stellarium had it at magnitude 0.93, about 6 degrees altitude, above the 'Teapot' asterism. The planet was just visible over the row of houses behind ours. Just goes to show how you can have these little "chance" observations. Well seen in the remains of twilight even with the naked eye, and surrounded by the fainter stars of Sagittarius in 10x50's, and above a line between Nunki and Kaus Borealis (slightly closer to Kaus Borealis).

Mark

[Brian]

Dear Mark, good observation. Thanks for the heads-up. Mars is still about 10deg above the horizon at 17h30, so I must try for it myself,

Regs,

[mike a feist]

9th November 2014: 1715-1730UT: Using 10x50 Hawke monocular mounted on a tripod, I managed to locate MARS lurking low in the SSW. With Mars in the centre of the 5.5 degree FOV ,sigma and phi fitted near the left & lower left edge. All four stars of the "Teapot Handle", sigma, Tau, zeta and phi, neatly fit in this fov. Observation from the upper window but very soon clouded out. regards maf.

[Brian]

This evening at 17h10-17h15UT, Mars surprisingly bright swept up in the SSW using Meade 10x50 binoculars. Also picked up sigma Sgr, at 8 o'clock to Mars. Didn't notice any other stars in the vicinity at that time.

From SkyMapPro:
Mars 0.9m, alt 10deg. Sigma 2m, alt 9deg. Separation of these two 3deg.

Mars was very red, sigma white. A ruby and a diamond in the sky

[trynda1701]

Well spotted, folks.

As I said, I was surprised how easy it was to spot, especially how low it was for me (6 degrees or so). Completely different from observing it with my C8 months ago in April at opposition! That was my best ever view of Mars. Work schedule and good weather never seemed to coincide for a good look at Mars at opposition. The only other good one I got was back in 1988?

Mark

[brian livesey]

I recall the Mars apparition in the 1980s Trynda. I was able to see the North Polar Cap and dusky features even in a 60mm refractor.

[trynda1701]

I got a good look with my homemade 150mm reflector. A good look in a 60mm refractor was brilliant!

Mark