There are two very good reasons to look up tonight and tomorrow morning.
First, Mars is making it’s closest approach to Earth since 2008. Because of the elliptical nature of the orbits of planets three and four sometimes they approach pretty closely - in planetary terms.
First, Mars is making it’s closest approach to Earth since 2008. Because of the elliptical nature of the orbits of planets three and four sometimes they approach pretty closely - in planetary terms.
Tonight, Mars will be just 57 million miles from Earth.
If you actually do look up at the night sky, you’ll see the moon with a bright star just below it. That star is Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Just so you know, Spica is a double star pair - two stars orbiting each other.
Just above the moon is Mars. It’s noticeably red and, through binoculars shows as a red disk rather than a red point.
Second, tomorrow morning, the full moon will pass through Earth’s shadow. This is known as a lunar eclipse. It will be visible in our area after starting about 1:20am and entering totality about about 3:46am.
Yes, that’s pretty early, but how often do you get to see an eclipse?
Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies.
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