Mars' 5-month celestial path

Event Date: December 13th

Time: 2:06(.28) PM (over 5 months)

Brief

Yesterday, I showed Mars updated local path, and how it has spent a few weeks at almost exactly the same altitude [above the horizon] at Sunset.  This time, I will take away the horizon to show its celestial path over the last 5 months.  To emphasize visually how it has sped up in prograde motion, I will hide the horizon and landscaping, and set the time to when Mars transits today.  That way, we can see more of the increment markers, and how they have separated.  The path starts at July 13th, and runs for 5 months.

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

Detailed

As a reminder, the increment markers are for every 10th day.  If it seems as if the change in increment marker gap hasn't increased much, that is true.  After its March opposition, Mars went back into prograde a few weeks later, and just started to pick up speed in prograde motion.  Since then, it has gradually accelerated (for lack of a better word, as I keep using this one!) west to east against the stars.  The Sun has been seemingly trying to catch up with it, as the geometry of the western sky has improved since Mars has become low.  By the time that conjunction comes, Mars is moving about its fastest in prograde; we know this, because we lose Mars to twilight glare and then the Sun itself, for several weeks.  That is why yesterday when I mentioned that we don't see Mars easily with the eye again until the middle of next year.  While still barely visible in atmospheric pollution this month, try to find it.  Next month, with later Sunsets and more twilight, it will be harder to find.  That, and of course, it creeps a little closer to the Sun in separation.