Star Trak
Mars will be at its highest and brightest for the year during February, coming into view in the east as evening twilight fades. The red planet was closest to Earth in its orbit on Jan. 27, and it will remain near its best all month as it outshines every star except Sirius. This will be a fine opportunity to view Mars through a telescope, since it won't be bigger or brighter until 2014.
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Once every 26 months or so, Mars comes closest to Earth in its orbit around the sun. That time has come again. Mars will reach opposition on Jan. 29, meaning it will be opposite the sun in our sky -- rising in the east around sunset, climbing highest in the south around midnight and setting around sunrise. In telescopes and binoculars, Mars will appear bigger and brighter than it will again until 2012.
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The annual Geminid meteor shower, which will reach its maximum on the night of Dec. 13-14, usually offers the best show of the year, outperforming even the Perseid shower of August. This year the Geminids will peak three days after new moon, so viewing conditions should be favorable. In a clear sky, observers may see more than 100 meteors per hour.
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Pumpkin-colored Mars will return to prominence during November, rising shortly before midnight at the beginning of the month and more than two hours earlier by month's end. The orange planet will brighten noticeably as it passes the stars of the Beehive cluster.
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Three planets will appear close together in the predawn sky in early October. Venus will be the first to rise, coming up two hours before the sun as a dazzling white "morning star" low in the east. Mercury will follow Venus about 45 minutes later. Last to appear will be Saturn, rising about 20 minutes after Mercury as the dawn sky brightens. Saturn will pass close to Mercury first and then Venus as the month advances.
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Jupiter will dominate the night sky during September. Glowing low in the southeast as evening twilight fades, it will climb high in the south before midnight and set around the time morning twilight begins. Jupiter's four brightest moons can usually be seen with binoculars, but on the night of Sept. 2-3, all four will be hidden either in front of the planet, behind it or in its shadow. Jupiter will not appear "moonless" again until 2019.
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