The red planet will be making an appearance.
It’s been quite an eventful season for stargazing these past few months, with a number of spectacles lighting up our skies (and our lockdown). From meteor showers to supermoons, we’ve had it all – and now, space fans can enjoy the rare sight of Mars in our skies early tomorrow morning.
Peeping through the sky just before daybreak, Mars will be shining brightly early tomorrow morning, with experts advising those who’d like to catch a glimpse of it to get up an hour or more before sunrise, since the sight of the red planet will gradually fade as the sun comes up. For those really dedicated to sacrificing some sleep, however, the closest pass between the Moon and Mars is set to take place at approximately 3am in the southeastern sky, which will provide gazers with the best view possible.
And if all this Mars talk wasn’t exciting enough, Jupiter and Saturn will also be turning up for the space party, with Jupiter outshining Mars by 12 times. The moon will be in its last quarter moon phase, meaning you’ll likely be able to spot it in the sky even after sunrise, before it sets again around midday. Jupiter, Venus and Saturn will be moving fast through the sky, with their positioning dramatically changing throughout the night as they orbit the Sun.
For those wanting to see the celestial sights, binoculars will help with spotting Jupiter and its four moons, with Saturn sitting a little further away, which can be seen using a telescope – although if you’re not quite equipped for pro stargazing, your own naked eyes will do the job just fine.
[Featured image: NASA]