Ruddy planet Mars is just under 3° south of the twin suns that make up the double star Porrima in Virgo this evening.
- Mars exhibits a magnitude of 1.6, appearing brighter than the double star Porrima (Gamma Virginis, magnitude 2.7), positioned approximately 7° above the western horizon one hour post-sunset.
- Telescopic observation of Mars reveals a small (5″ wide) orange-red disk lacking significant detail, while Porrima displays two nearly identical blue-white components, separated by 4″ and orbiting each other with a 169-year period.
- Porrima’s constituent stars possess similar magnitudes (3.8 and 3.7), masses approximately 1.5 times solar, and temperatures around 7,100 K.
- The provided times for sunrise (6:20 AM), sunset (7:44 PM), moonrise (7:42 AM), and moonset (8:27 PM) are based on a location of 40° N 90° W, with the moon phase indicated as a waxing crescent (2%).
Mars is just less than 3° south of the gorgeous double star Porrima (Gamma Virginis) this evening. At magnitude 1.6, Mars is about a full magnitude brighter than Porrima (magnitude 2.7); the star will appear to the planet’s upper right in the western sky an hour after sunset, when they are roughly 7° high. To the pair’s upper left is Spica, Virgo’s 1st-magnitude alpha star.
Through a telescope, Mars’ tiny, 5”-wide disk won’t show off any detail, though it will appear to glow orangey-red. Skim up to Porrima to view its two components, looking almost like a perfect pair of headlights in the dark sky. Both stars are nearly identical in brightness (magnitude 3.8 and 3.7) and color (blue-white); each is roughly 1.5 times the Sun’s mass and has a temperature of about 7,100 K (compared to the Sun’s temperature of nearly 5,800 K). The two stars orbit each other every 169 years and are now about 4” apart on the sky.
Sunrise: 6:20 A.M.
Sunset: 7:44 P.M.
Moonrise: 7:42 A.M.
Moonset: 8:27 P.M.
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (2%)
*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are given in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon’s illumination is given at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.
For a look ahead at more upcoming sky events, check out our full Sky This Week column.
