Just remember that Mars will be well past the prime observing window for this opposition by then, only around 9 seconds of arc in diameter (estimation on my part), and noticeably gibbous, so we'll need exceptional seeing in order to make out surface detail. If you want to see Martian detail, look now, as it is receding from earth and getting smaller every day until next opposition in 2016. On Sun, Apr 27, 2014 at 3:35 PM, Wiggins Patrick <paw@getbeehive.net> wrote:
Correct. I'd not noticed that.
Looks like closest, 24.5', for here at SPOC is at 1830 MDT with Spica about 4 degrees from the pair.
At that time the Sun will still be up but we might still be able to spot Mars by scanning just above the Moon.
By the time civil twilight starts about 2130 the two will be about 1 degree apart.
patrick
On 27 Apr 2014, at 05:36, Kelly Ricks <kellyalenericks@gmail.com> wrote:
...and you probably noticed this as well, but Mars and the 1st quarter moon will also be in extremely close conjunction on July 5th. I don't know precisely how many degrees will separate them, but it looks to be about 1/2. Great night for a single field of view!
~Kelly