Mars and stars make red triangle in night sky
4 comments Print Me Email to FriendTonight's Sky for Thursday, Mar 06 2008
Over the next few weeks, red Mars and two bright red stars are appearing together in the shape of a triangle in the night sky.
Looking southward to overhead at nightfall, you’ll spot the red planet Mars, now in front of the constellation Gemini the Twins. Mars has faded in brightness from a few months ago, when we on Earth passed between Mars and the sun. But it’s still pretty bright. If you are under dark skies, Mars will look as if it is floating amidst stars of the winter Milky Way.
Look near Mars for two other reddish objects, forming the triangle. The reddish star Betelgeuse represents the right shoulder of the mighty Hunter in the constellation Orion. Completing this large triangle of red objects is the star Aldebaran, representing the fiery eye of the Bull in the constellation Taurus. Aldebaran glares menacingly to the lower right of Mars.
These trio of red objects illustrates how colorful the night skies can be, if your sky is dark, and if you take the time to notice star colors. Mars’ color stems from its reddish soil. Mars is an icy cold red desert world, with a pink sky. It is relatively nearby, a planet in our own solar system.
Aldebaran is a red giant star and Betelgeuse is a red supergiant. They look red because these stars are in the autumn of their years. They have swollen in size and their surface temperatures have dropped. Our sun is expected to become a red giant someday, in about 4.5 billion years.
Has any one looked at the sky yet because i want to know what you see in it
Hey everybody! I love the night sky, dont you?
Tonight, great sky watching weather. Got to see the “red triangle” of Betelgeus, Mars and Aldebaran. Also saw the “teapot” in Sagatarius.
This is true, you should measure the angles of the triangle and compare to the 3. ;)