Mars marches across the sky past stars and other planets. All throughout August, Mars approached, passed, and receded from Saturn. Now, the Red Planet approaches the wide double star Zubenelgenubi in Libra. On September 15, it will lie right below the star, whose double nature is easily apparent through binoculars. Look for the continuing Mars scenes at 8:30 p.m. in the west-southwest.
The first image shows the general area of the sky with Mars glowing to the lower right and Zubenelgenubi just to its upper left. Scorpius with its bright star Antares sits to their far left. The moderately bright star in the upper right corner is another Zuben: Zubeneschamali.
The second image shows Mars and Zubenelgenubi. The two stellar components are apparent when the image is enlarged slightly. They are to Mars' upper left.
