Mars celestial path: 3 months long

Event Date: October 22nd

Time: 6:45 PM

Brief

Yesterday, I showed Venus' celestial path as it has moved through zodical constellations rising during the late hours of the night, and wee hours of the morning: Gemini, Cancer and Leo.  This evening I will show Mars' celestial path, as it also has moved quickly in prograde over the last few months.  I will start the path on July 1st, and notice where the increment markers are, related to each other.

I hid the horizon, so to show the entire path.  The Sun has of course, moved through the part of the sky where Mars was between July 1st through now, and taking the horizon away helps see the change in gaps between increment markers.

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

Detailed

Even without the horizon, we can see from Mars' path, the angle that the ecliptic makes with it not far from parallel.  The geometry of this part of the horizon during the evening is not favorable to planets not far east of the Sun.  However, as we watch Mars over the next couple of months, that will change.  Not only does the planet stay about the same magnitude, but it eventually becomes more north of the Sun by December.  We will continue to have Mars with us throughout the fall somewhat easily visible, yet still in atmospheric pollution, not easy to see for long.  Using optical aid, try to find the planet.  There is also a very gradual change in phase for Mars, as it goes to the Sun's far side: we have seen it as a waning gibbous since opposition, yet now, it is waxing, seen from our angle.  The waxing is hard to notice however.  At 94%, we will see Mars wax nearly to full, before it falls out of view during the mid winter months, into twilight and the Sun's glare.  It is magnitude +1.2, and holds steady as it approaches perigee near the time of conjunction.