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Science & Technology: the Stars in November

Posted on: Wednesday, 26 October 2005, 06:00 CDT

By Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest

Two years ago, Mars hit the headlines when it made its closest approach to the Earth in almost 60,000 years. Despite its proximity, the Red Planet was a bit of a disappointment from the UK. We both observed Mars at its closest during a star-party held at Jodrell Bank " but it was so low in the sky that the image was constantly 'boiling' as we viewed it through unsteady air.

The good news is that Mars is back! It's not quite as near as it was in 2003, but it is much higher in the sky, so there will be much crisper views through a reasonable telescope. Even with the naked eye, you can't miss Mars. It's blazing high in the sky all month " brighter than any star " and will be due south at midnight on 7 November.

A telescope will show you a white polar cap at Mars's south pole. This icy patch is quite small, as Mars's southern hemisphere is currently experiencing late summer. More prominent are the dark markings crossing the red deserts. These are areas of bare rock, where seasonal winds have swept away the brighter desert dust.

Keeping Mars under closer scrutiny is a team of five robots. Nasa's 'rovers', Spirit and Opportunity, are rolling over the surface. They have already uncovered positive evidence that water flowed on Mars in the past, when the planet was warmer than today. In orbit, Nasa has two spacecraft " Global Surveyor and Odyssey. And the European Space Agency is operating Mars Express, which is sending back stunning colour images of the Red Planet. Mars Express has also discovered methane gas in Mars's atmosphere.

A flotilla of new spacecraft will test whether there is life on Mars. Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is on its way. A new lander, Phoenix, will arrive in 2008 and dig through the frozen sediments of Mars's north pole. A couple of years later, Europe will extend its research with a stationary science laboratory and a rover.

What's Up

Two brilliant planets are putting the stars to shame this month: our nearest neighbours, Venus and Mars. After sunset, look towards the south- west to spot the glorious Evening Star, Venus, shining like a tiny lantern suspended in the darkening sky. Venus is at its greatest distance from the Sun in the sky on 3 November, but because of the Earth's tilt it's quite low as seen from the UK. Don't worry: Venus will rise higher in our skies throughout the month.

Coincidently, the other planet that lies within the Earth's orbit " Mercury " is also furthest from the Sun on 3 November, but it is lost in the twilight glow for UK observers.

In the later evening, the 'winter stars' are beginning to rise in the east: the familiar figure of Orion, the hunter, with Taurus (the bull) lying to his upper right " between Orion and Mars. To the left you'll find the brilliant star Capella high in the sky, with the 'twins' Castor and Pollux below. This month, it appears as if we're seeing triplets, as Saturn lies immediately below the pair.

Philip's Stargazing 2006, by Heather Couper and Nigel Henbest (pounds 6.99)

Source: Independent, The; London (UK)

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