Posted on 08/02/2024 12:32:21 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: As Mars wanders through Earth's night, it passes about 5 degrees south of the Pleiades star cluster in this composite astrophoto. The skyview was constructed from a series of images captured over a run of 16 consecutive clear nights beginning on July 12. Mars' march across the field of view begins at the far right, the planet's ruddy hue showing a nice contrast with the blue Pleiades stars. Moving much faster across the sky against the distant stars, the fourth planet from the Sun easily passes seventh planet Uranus. Red planet Mars and the ice giant world were in close conjunction, about 1/2 degree apart, on July 16. Continuing its rapid eastward trek, Mars has now left the sister stars and outer planet behind though, passing north of red giant star Aldebaran. Mars will come within about 1/3 degree of Jupiter in planet Earth's sky on August 14.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Cool picture. Conveys a lot of info.
It’s a composite of pictures taken at the same time every night for 16 consecutive nights.
The short line above and between the fourth and fifth “Marses” from the right is composed of 16 images of Uranus, which is presently about 124 times as far from Earth as is Mars, at 1.84 billion miles.
Aldebaran is big, 45 times the diameter of our Sun, but a bit more than four million times farther away.
Aldebaran, the “eye” of the constellation Taurus, is near the left margin of the image. Because it and the other stars such as the Pleiades (cluster at upper center) are so much farther away, they appear to be not moving at all.
This is in fact true. Mars' orbit is not in the same plane as that of Uranus; an angle of 0.66° separates the two planes.
Yes, the orbital plane of the solar system is not perfectly aligned.
I never knew that before I looked closely at that wonderful image.
I sure won't forget it now!
"Mars will come within about 1/3 degree of Jupiter in planet Earth's sky on August 14"
Is this where Jupiter aligns with Mars?
Sky chart showing the conjunction of Mars and Jupiter in the morning of August 14.
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/whats-up-august-2024-skywatching-tips-from-nasa/
Looks like Mardi Gras beads!
You always have to cover Uranus.
Thanks for the great description! A fascinating picture indeed.
Wow.
Mars? Maybe those dots are Starlink satellites.... : )
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