Mars, Saturn and Spica near closest separations

Event Date: August 14th
Time: 8:30 PM


Brief

Mars, Saturn and Spica now barely fit within a 5º field, although a 6 or 7º one is ideal to view all three of them centered closely.  I reviewed the trio earlier this month, when they were seen in an 8º field.  Through a 5º one, the magnification is enough that Saturn's rings may be just barely visible--the "extensions" of them on either side of the disc, although more magnification is required to see them clearly.  Here are the planets and star featured below, with a zoom-out and a 7º zoom-in.  Since the latter is a small magnification, the software doesn't show Saturn's rings at all.

click on images to enlarge: courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus, version 6.4.3, by Simulation Curriculum Corp.

Detailed

Mars is about 1.8º from Spica and 2.7º from Saturn; the closest that the Mars and Saturn are to each other this time in angular measurements.  Spica and Saturn are 4.5º apart.  The trio was tightest back on August 8th, when the largest separation of any of the three --Saturn and Spica in this case-- was just under 4.5º.  Since then, Mars has closed in on both, with the closest separation between it and Spica happening yesterday; about 6 arc-minutes closer than yesterday. 
   Mars will distance itself from Spica and Saturn as the days pass, and eventually, Saturn will follow suite, leaving Spica isolated.  As a result of retrograde next spring, Saturn will retreat towards Spica, but the closest encounter will not be as close as that earlier this year.