Mars at Opposition

[DommyDevil18]

I wonder who will be looking at Mars in Opposition on April 8th because I certainly will. Look at the Constellation of Libra the Scales to help you find it because the Sun will be residing in the Constellations of Aries until 19th April.

[Laurie61]

I have noticed it low in the s.e. several times over the last few weeks, around midnight, but not had a chance to look at it yet. It's now up to 10 arc sec which is big enough to make it interesting   

[tingting44]

DOUBT i will with all this cloud

[Ben Smith]

April 14 will be the closest mars will be to earth.

Check out this graphic I found

[Pig]

Ive not managed to have a really good look at Mars, hopefully we will get the chance in April.

Thank you for posting

[DommyDevil18]

I to have noticed low down in the SE skies but I am stranded with light pollution. Good thing is I have a Camera that shields the light out and then I can go and get a nice image weather permitting. And your welcome for the person who said thank you for posting

[Paranoidsam]

Surely, surely... The weather will have cleared up by then.

We do tend to get 2 or 3 weeks of high pressure in April lately... Here's hoping.

[Ben Smith]

Shame about the full moon on the 14th, smack bang in the middle of mars and saturn.

[Orange Haze]

Cannot wait for this opposition. There will be a nice window either side of April 14th where the moon shouldn't interfere too much. I have tried and failed on Mars so many times, this will be my first chance to nail the Red Wonder at opposition thru my 250px.

"I have you now!" Darth Vader, 1977.

[DazC]

Thanks for the heads up.

This will also be my first look at Mars with my 250 dob.

D.C

[Peter Drew]

I wouldn't worry too much about the presence of the Moon, it has little effect on planetary observation, in fact for Mars, which is small and bright, it can be a benefit as it helps diminish the glare of the planet. One of my best ever views of Saturn was just before it was occulted by a bright Moon. 

[DazC]

I wouldn't worry too much about the presence of the Moon, it has little effect on planetary observation, in fact for Mars, which is small and bright, it can be a benefit as it helps diminish the glare of the planet. One of my best ever views of Saturn was just before it was occulted by a bright Moon. 

That's handy to know.

Thanks.

D.C

[DommyDevil18]

The moon in some ways helps you distinguish Mars from a lot of the bright Red Stars but because I live in a place that is quite polluted with Light I have difficulty distinguishing 

[Paranoidsam]

Yeah, the Moon won't cause any trouble, as long as its not right smack in the field of view.

Really it only causes problems with deep-sky observing.

[cotterless45]

The super views 2 years ago in March , with reasonable gear !

Nick.

[DommyDevil18]

You have some impressing sketching right their I always find Mars to be the more interesting of the rocky planets because you can actually see the surface of it which you cant with Venus This was the last time I had a good glimpse of Mars and that was two years ago because I remember seeing the Transit of Venus as well