Jersey Skies: Viewing the ‘dusky’ details of Mars as it makes close approach to Earth – Jersey’s Best

Mars has been visible in the morning sky through the summer, but now it is getting ready for its close approach to Earth next month.

This years appearance of Mars might actually be better than its closest approach in 2018. At that point, the planet was low in the sky, which made for poor viewing conditions. Also, Mars experienced a major dust storm. There was so much dust in the atmosphere that much of the surface detail we would ordinarily see was rendered invisible for months. The storm was so intense that NASAs solar powered Mars rover, Opportunity, shut down and was lost.

This time, the planet is not as close, but much higher in the sky, which will make for better viewing in a telescope. The planet is currently 41.5 million miles away from us. You will be able to see Mars coming up in the east around 10 p.m. It will be in the constellation Pisces, the fish. It will be near the bottom of the V shape that makes up the body of the fish. It is quite brilliant now at magnitude -2, so it will be brighter than the stars.

After 11 p.m., youll get a better view as the planet rises up into the sky. It will be at its highest point in the south (56 degrees) around 3 a.m. You can follow it all the way until dawn when youll see it starting to go down in the west.

A telescope with a magnification power of 75x to 100x will be necessary to get a view of any details. You can look for dark, dusky markings on the Martian surface. One of the ice caps is often visible as a bright spot at the south pole.

If you are interested in Jupiter and Saturn, which are now visible in the southern sky, the Newark Museum of Art will feature these two gas giants on Sept. 15 during a free monthly Ask an Astronomer program. To register, visit NMOA at HOME.

Kevin D. Conod is the planetarium manager and astronomer at The Newark Museum of Arts Dreyfuss Planetarium. For updates on the night sky, call the Newark Skyline at (973) 596-6529.

Excerpt from:

Jersey Skies: Viewing the 'dusky' details of Mars as it makes close approach to Earth - Jersey's Best