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Monday, October 22, 2012

 

The Rivals


Mars near the red star Antares on Monday October 22, 2012. Mars is the bright object to the right of centre, 2/3rds of the way down, Antares is the bright object near centre. Mercury is the bright object just above the roofs (click to embiggen).Close-up of Mars near Antares.

As you know, the name Antares means "Rival of Mars". Both objects are red, and for a good part of the year they are of similar brightness. Of course one is a red giant star, the other a modest sized planet. Ironically, Antares is so big that Mar's orbit would lie inside the rival star.


Tonight they looked good together, giving the Scorpion a very unusual shape.

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