Remember, the solar system can be likened to a vast music record - or compact disc. The sun occupies the central hole. On a discarded CD, you could take a marking pen and make dots for the planets, at varying distances from the center.
The planets move in concentric paths, although not quite exact circles, and almost on the same plane. When the planets are near together in the sky we say they are in conjunction.
Mars, however, is an outer planet. At this stage in its orbit, Mars is bunching up with Mercury from our line of sight, as it heads around the other side of the sun and eventually re-emerge in the morning eastern sky.
The planets are at their closest on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8. After that point, Mercury is higher than Mars. On Feb. 10 you may be able to detect the extremely thin crescent moon to the lower right. On Feb. 11, the moon is a thicker crescent, above the planets and easier to see.
New moon is on Feb. 10.
Keep looking up!
Remember, the solar system can be likened to a vast music record - or compact disc. The sun occupies the central hole. On a discarded CD, you could take a marking pen and make dots for the planets, at varying distances from the center.
The planets move in concentric paths, although not quite exact circles, and almost on the same plane. When the planets are near together in the sky we say they are in conjunction.
Mars, however, is an outer planet. At this stage in its orbit, Mars is bunching up with Mercury from our line of sight, as it heads around the other side of the sun and eventually re-emerge in the morning eastern sky.
The planets are at their closest on Feb. 7 and Feb. 8. After that point, Mercury is higher than Mars. On Feb. 10 you may be able to detect the extremely thin crescent moon to the lower right. On Feb. 11, the moon is a thicker crescent, above the planets and easier to see.
New moon is on Feb. 10.
Keep looking up!
