Next Up: Mars Opposition 2007

Well, last night’s Geminid meteor shower was a bit of a disappointment for me in chilly, cloudy Illinois. I was able to see a few meteors, around a dozen or so in the few hours I sat outside (I kept going in and out since I am in the middle of town, there wasn’t a very comfy place to set up).

There were extensive clouds in my area so I was only able to see what peeked through the clear spots.

Now I have my sights set on the Mars opposition, set to occur this coming Tuesday night, December 18th.

See how close we’re getting? Check this out:

Image Credit: John Walker’s Solar System Live

If it’s clear where you are, go out on any night for the next week or so and you’ll get an outstanding view of Mars. It’s very bright in the sky right now and will remain so for the rest of the month.

Binoculars will give an impressive view and small refractors even better. Because it’s winter and the skies are relatively still (especially after a cold front passes), you’ll get away with using a higher magnification on your scope without too much image degradation.

Of course, the cold, still skies of winter won’t stabilize your mount however, so be careful about going too high.

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