Finding Mars....

[stardad]

I went out tonight to find Mars according to this site

All-Sky U.K. Star Chart

as it should be reasonably up to see with little or no moon out tonight at the moment.

Can I find it. Nope.

Somebody has posted on another thread that I wont be able to see it till later in the year. Can somebody explain why I cant please.

[Cornelius Varley]

I think they are telling you porkies. Mars is close to the Sun at the moment and is not viible.

Peter

[stardad]

Thanks.

Don't I feel a plonker.....

Will have to wait a few hours and see if I can see Saturn, children will have gone to bed by then.

[scotttumsh01]

Enjoy your clear skies Stardad! wish i could get out, raining in lowland Scotland!

[MarySkater]

I reckon that site is set up for the wrong year...

[stardad]

I did feel like quitting tonight when I couldn't find it. You live and learn.....

[Marcus daniel]

Hi Stardad my son uses this, i believe it is fairly accurate.

Stellarium

[MorningMajor]

I did feel like quitting tonight when I couldn't find it. You live and learn.....

Quit - but you've actually got clear skies!! - don't be daft!

But seriously - if you don't always find what you set out to - don't panic - there's always something else!

EDIT - just had a look at that site and something is obviously wrong as it doesn't show jupiter as being viewable when it clearly still is

[Stevenebm]

wish we had clear skies up here.all it seems to do in scotland is rain!!

[Davie]

wish we had clear skies up here.all it seems to do in scotland is rain!!

you're not surprised by this are you?

Almost got my hopes up today when there was a clear blue sky in the early afternoon but knew better than to plan for a few hours out in the cold

[Debostar]

You might want to try looking for Uranus, it is a tough target nowadays, and it is nothing more than a pale green faint star with a 9mm EP....I wonder how it would look with a barlow lens, I am waiting for mine...As far as planets is concerned, I think the two giants (Jupiter and Saturn) are the most interesting to observe. Mars is apparently in conjunction these days and should be available in a year or so....

[philsparrow]

Enjoy your clear skies Stardad! wish i could get out, raining in lowland Scotland!

Can't remember what a clear sky is and as a newbie its frustrating:mad:

[johnkirkpatrick]

You could be reading last years sky. Mars was out this time last year. Not sure when its back for us to look at, Just now its really close to the sun.