Monday, July 23, 2012

Mars, Saturn and Spica: A "triple star" begins its formation


Over the next two nights, the crescent moon moves near Mars, Saturn and Spica providing an easy ID of these three similarly bright celestial objects. The moon lies next to Mars on Tuesday night and, on Wednesday night, to the left of Saturn and Spica forming a heavenly triangle. Look to the west around 9:30 a.m. 

The end of July sees Mars creeping closer towards the short gap between Saturn and Spica. Finally, on August 14, the Red Planet slide between them, making an unusual apparent triple star.

Such is our view from Earth...

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