Skywatch February & March 2012
Four planets, bright stars, and falling stars all highlight March and April 2012. Just as the sky grows dark two bright planets become visible in the western sky. The brighter of the two and the first star-like object to appear is Venus, the third brightest natural object in the sky after the Sun and the Moon. Lower, closer to the horizon, and a little fainter but still bright is the largest of all the planets, Jupiter. In mid-March these two planet will appear fairly close together in the early evening sky. To the south of Venus is a bright red star, Aldebaran, the red right eye of Taurus, the Bull.
Once the sky grows darker, look to the east and high in the sky will be a bright red star-like object. This is the planet Mars. Mars will be at "opposition" on March 3rd, meaning it will be opposite the Sun as seen from the Earth. The red planet will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This is the best time to view and photograph Mars. Slightly to the west of Mars is the bright star Regulus, the heart of Leo the Lion.
