Check out Mars & Saturn this month
Mars and Saturn, May 2016 – low in the southeast around 11 PM local time, or just before sunrise low in the southwest, look for a bright triangle, 7 to 10 degrees on each side (your fist subtends roughly ten degrees when you extend your arm). The brightest is Mars (slightly orange-red, not twinkling) followed by Saturn (yellowish, not twinkling) and the star Antares. One month is about 2 hours of sky-time, so this trio will appear that much earlier by the end of the month but the distances between them will change - after all, 'planet' means 'wanderer'. Mars is only this bright when near opposition, which occurs May 22, after which it will slowly dim. If out before 3 AM, don't miss brilliant Jupiter, farther west and a bit farther north. A steadily held binocular may show up to 4 of Jupiter's moons.
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Steve & Debbie Russell
2013 Sunseeker 2900
TelescopeClinic
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