Post by elizabeth on Apr 9, 2014 17:05:07 GMT
The blood moon is this weekend, the Passover weekend. Now on Tuesday following, there is also an unusual star alignment. It's another sign in the heavens, even if we don't know exactly what it means. I'll just quote the entire source:
Source: USA Today click here
Skywatchers will get a rare treat Tuesday night when Mars, Earth and the sun will be arranged in a nearly straight line.
Every two years, Mars reaches a point in its orbit called "opposition," when the planet lies directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky, according to Astronomy magazine.
YOUR TAKE: Sky watchers, share your photos of starry skies
This means Mars rises near sunset and remains visible all night long as it moves nearly overhead across the night sky. It will be a bright burnt orange color, NASA's Mars Exploration Program reports, and almost 10 times brighter than the brightest stars in the sky.
"From our perspective on our spinning world, Mars rises in the east just as the sun sets in the west," NASA reports. "Then, after staying up in the sky the entire night, Mars sets in the west just as the sun rises in the east."
With no big storms forecast Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service, Mars should be visible in most areas.
At their closest point next week, Mars and Earth will "only" be about 57 million miles apart. Another treat awaits April 14, when the full moon also will appear near Mars.
Mars won't appear this big and bright again until its next "opposition" on May 22, 2016, Astronomyreports.
Every two years, Mars reaches a point in its orbit called "opposition," when the planet lies directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky, according to Astronomy magazine.
YOUR TAKE: Sky watchers, share your photos of starry skies
This means Mars rises near sunset and remains visible all night long as it moves nearly overhead across the night sky. It will be a bright burnt orange color, NASA's Mars Exploration Program reports, and almost 10 times brighter than the brightest stars in the sky.
"From our perspective on our spinning world, Mars rises in the east just as the sun sets in the west," NASA reports. "Then, after staying up in the sky the entire night, Mars sets in the west just as the sun rises in the east."
With no big storms forecast Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service, Mars should be visible in most areas.
At their closest point next week, Mars and Earth will "only" be about 57 million miles apart. Another treat awaits April 14, when the full moon also will appear near Mars.
Mars won't appear this big and bright again until its next "opposition" on May 22, 2016, Astronomyreports.