Mars, nonetheless comparatively contemporary from final month’s sensible opposition, stays the principle planetary curiosity. The crimson planet is an unmistakable sight because it rides comparatively excessive in Taurus; it may be seen excessive within the east as night-fall. Though it fades from magnitude –1.2 to –0.3 and shrinks in obvious diameter from 14.5″ to 10.7″, it’s on-show all month till previous midnight.
A 80mm (~three-inch) telescope can present Mars’ most outstanding dusky marking, the wedge- or V-shaped Syrtis Main, which is outstanding on the Mars disc for the primary half of the month.
A waxing gibbous Moon pays a welcome go to to the crimson planet on the night of three and 30 January, on the latter date it’s positioned between Mars and the marvellous Pleiades open cluster.
