Astronomical Events Information | 2016 | August
Mars, Saturn, and Antares Approach Each Other
Let’s watch the southwestern evening sky.
In the southwestern evening sky, Mars and Saturn are shining close together like good friends. Right next to them, we can find the 1st magnitude star Antares in the constellation Scorpio.
On the 12th, the Moon, which passes waxing quarter phase the day before, appears to approach Mars and Saturn. The sight of the Moon and these bright celestial objects, shining as if competing against each other, should draw the eye.
The Moon, which revolves around the Earth, changes its position from day to day, moving from west to east with respect to the background stars. Let’s observe how the Moon moves and changes shape when it is close to Mars and Saturn for several days around the 12th.
Compared to the Moon, Mars’s speed is very slow, but it is also gradually changing position. On the 24th, Mars passes between Saturn and Antares, passing closer to Antares. Please enjoy the spectacle of these 3 bright objects, 1st magnitude.
Source: Ephemeris Computation Office, NAOJ
You can look up the rising and setting times for the Sun and the Moon for various locations, and the phases of the Moon in the “Koyomi Station” of the NAOJ Ephemeris Computation Office.