Red and Golden Planets at Opposition   
       
   May 18, 2016:  Earth is about to lap Mars and then Saturn in their race around   
   the sun. The two planets have gathered together in the constellation Scorpius   
   where they are shining brightly in the evening sky with Mars gleaming burnt   
   orange and Saturn golden yellow.   
       
   The action begins with Mars. On May 22, 2016, Earth will pass directly between   
   the sun and the Red Planet. Astronomers call this event "the opposition of   
   Mars" because the sun and Mars will be on opposite sides of the sky.   
       
   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qkzDcIeRV0   
       
   Oppositions of Mars happen every 26 months. The racetrack model of planetary   
   orbits explains why. Earth and Mars are like runners on a track. Earth is on   
   the inner path; Mars is on the outer one. Every 26 months, speedy Earth   
   catches up to slower Mars and laps it. Opposition occurs just as Earth takes   
   the lead.   
       
   Because planetary orbits are elliptical, not all oppositions are the same. In   
   2003, Earth made its closest pass by Mars in 50,000 years when it passed just   
   34.6 million miles away. During this year's opposition Mars will pass only 47   
   million miles away. The next opposition - in 2018 - will be even closer at   
   35.8 million miles away.   
       
   The 2003 opposition was an apparition that mesmerized sky watchers all over   
   the world. This opposition in 2016 will be the closest the two planets have   
   been to one another since that historic event.   
       
   To see Mars, just step outside after sunset and look towards the Southeast. It   
   is reddish and bright --and it's not alone.   
       
   Just to the left of Mars is a golden luminous body, not quite as bright as the   
   Red Planet but still eye-catching. That's Saturn!The ringed planet is having   
   an opposition of its own. Saturn will be closest to Earth and opposite the sun   
   on June 3rd at 840 million miles.   
       
   Both planets are at their best view during the last week of May and first week   
   of June. Framed by the bright stars of Scorpius, they are a spectacular sight   
   to the naked eye and can be seen even better with a small telescope. The rings   
   of Saturn are easy to see through backyard optics. Ditto for the ruddy disk of   
   Mars. The Red Planet is just finishing winter in its southern hemisphere so be   
   alert for a bright polar cap at the Martian south pole!   
       
   You may also notice a bright star near Mars and Saturn. That's Antares, a red   
   supergiant star. If Antares replaced the sun in our solar system, its surface   
   would extend beyond the orbit of Mars. Writers sometimes call Antares "the   
   rival of Mars" because the two look so much alike in brightness and hue. If   
   you look closely, however, you'll see that Antares twinkles like a star while   
   Mars does not.   
       
   Mars, Saturn, and Antares form a must-see triangle in the late spring sky. Not   
   to be outdone, the nearly full Moon comes into the field of view from May   
   20-23. About an hour and a half after sunset, look for the Moon in the   
   Southeast as it passes right by the celestial trio. Mark your calendar and   
   take a look!   
       
   For more news about bright lights in the night sky, stay tuned to   
   science.nasa.gov   
       
       
   Regards,   
       
   Roger   
      
   --- DB 3.99 + Windows 10   
    * Origin: NCS BBS - Houma, LoUiSiAna (1:3828/7)