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Credit & Copyright: Tunç Tezel
(TWAN)
Explanation:
That bright, ruddy star you've recently
noticed rising just after sunset isn't a star at all.
That's Mars,
the Red Planet.
Mars is now
near its 2014 opposition (April 8) and closest approach
(April 14), looping through the constellation Virgo
opposite the
Sun in planet Earth's sky.
Clearly outshining bluish Spica, alpha star of Virgo, Mars
is centered in this labeled skyview from early April, that includes
two other solar system worlds approaching their opposition.
On the left, small and faint
asteroid Vesta and
dwarf planet Ceres are seen near star Tau Virginis.
But you'll just have to imagine
NASA's Dawn
spacecraft cruising between the small worlds.
Having left Vesta
in September of 2012, Dawn's
ion engine has been
steadily driving it to match orbits with Ceres, scheduled to arrive
there in February 2015.
Of course, you can also look near Mars for the Moon opposite the Sun in
Earth's sky on the night of April 14/15 ... and see a
total
lunar eclipse.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Mars - Ceres - Vesta
Publications with words: Mars - Ceres - Vesta
See also: