Thursday 11th March, 2010
Saturn
Saturn is in Virgo , it rises in the east and climbs highest in the south after midnight. Saturn’s rings haven’t been at their best position for viewing lately, being nearly edge on to us for a lot of 2009 making them virtually disappear. But the rings are slightly tilted to us now so you might catch a view of them. Saturn’s brightness is gradually increasing as it heads towards full opposition on the 22nd of March.
Tonight Saturn’s magnitude is 0.21, it’s angular size is 19″, it rises at 6.31 pm, and is at the highest point in the sky at 12.41 am (GMT)
Saturn’s moon Titan is the brightest satellite of the gas giant at magnitude 8.2, followed by Rhea at magnitude 9.9 .
Mars
The planet Mars is in Cancer, you can see it rising in the east after sunset, eventually getting very high in the south by mid evening. The salmon pink glow from the red planet is unmistakable. Mars passed full opposition on 29th January, and is now very slowly decreasing in brightness and size. But right now Mars is perfectly placed in the night sky for viewing, and from a dark sight looks amazing hanging in the sky near the band of the Milky Way.
Tonight Mars’ magnitude is -0.32, it’s angular size is 11″, and it gets to it’s highest point in the sky at 8.44 pm (GMT)
Venus
You will see Venus low on the western horizon shining through the evening twighlight, it is slowly climbing as each evening passes. Keep an eye out for it after the Sun goes down, as it doesn’t stay in the sky for long.
Tonight Venus’s magnitude is -3.80 with an angular size of 10″, it sets at 7.02 pm (GMT)
Goodbye for now, Jupiter
The gas giant and the ever changing scene of it’s four Jovian moons has disappeared into the evening twighlight. But it will return as an early morning planet at the end of March onwards. You will then find it low on the eastern horizon, gradually growing in angular size and brightness as we go through the following weeks and months.