2023-07-08 15:10:56
Trio Venus, Mars and Regulus Venus is the brightest point of light in the night sky. In early July, it will set in the west less than two hours after sunset. As you look towards the fading colors of the setting sun, Venus will be the first light you see. The planet closest to Earth shines at -4.7 magnitude in the first half of the month. On July 9, 2023, if you wait until the sky gets darker, you will see two points of light very close together and above the bright planet Venus. The brightest and whitest light is Regulus, the brightest star in Leo Leo. And next to him is reddish Mars. These two worlds appear just above the Moon on July 9 and 10. On the evening of July 9, 2023, bright Venus will sit below darker Mars and Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. The triple will fit within a 5 degree field. In addition, Mars and Regulus will be 0.7 degrees closer—slightly more than the width of the full moon—to each other that evening. Mars and Regulus will still be very close the next evening. Uses Stellarium.org to find a sky map for your exact location. Use binoculars to spot them at dusk in the evening. Mars will set at about 10:30 PM (your local time). Graphic via John Jardine Goss/Earthsky. Binocular view To better see this trio, try focusing on them with binoculars. Through binoculars, you may be able to see the crescent phase of Venus. Next, find the white and red points of light close together in the same field of view. These are Regulus and Mars, respectively. Mars should be a steady light, but Regulus has flickered. This is because Mars is closer to Earth. A star – like Regulus – is far enough away, no more than a speck of light in our sky. So the undulating Earth’s atmosphere we pass through might be blown off by Regulus, while the disc-like Mars remains stable. In this July 9, 2023, binocular view of two planets – Venus and Mars – near Regulus. In fact, Mars passes within 0.7 degrees — a little more than the width of the Moon — from Regulus overnight. Mars and Regulus will still be close on July 10, too. Start your search about 30-45 minutes after sunset. Graphic via John Jardine Goss/Earthsky. Our maps are mainly set for the Northern Hemisphere. To see an accurate display of your site, try Stellarium online. If you got a great photo from the event, send it to us! Submit your photo to the EarthSky community photo gallery. Bottom line: You can see Venus, Mars, and Regulus close together on July 9 and 10. Use binoculars to get a better view of dark objects, slightly more than the width of the moon. For more videos of major night sky events, visit the EarthSky YouTube page. For more night sky events, visit EarthSky’s guide to visible planets and the night sky. Read more: The brightest planet Venus now in the evening sky for 2023 Kelly Keizer-Witt Show articles About the author: Kelly Keizer-Witt has been a science writer specializing in astronomy for more than two decades. She began her career at Astronomy magazine, and has made regular contributions to Astronomy Today and the Sierra Club, among others. Her children’s picture book, Solar System Outlook, was published in 2012. She has also written a dystopian novel for young adults, A Different Sky. When she’s not reading or writing about astronomy and stargazing, she enjoys traveling to national parks, creating crossword puzzles, running, playing tennis and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin. “Infuriatingly humble internet aficionados. Proud hooligans. web lover. businessman. Award-winning music attorney.”
1688842687
#Venus #Mars #Regulus #meet #July #9th