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Purveyor

(29,876 posts)
Sat May 21, 2016, 03:14 PM May 2016

Stargazers To Get Rare Glimpse Of Blue Moon, Bright Mars This Weekend

There is an astronomical phenomenon known as a Blue Moon which happens, you guessed it, only occasionally. And it’s happening this weekend.

In fact, Saturday and Sunday will offer a dual opportunity for stargazers to get excited because aside from the infrequent Blue Moon Saturday evening there will also be some high-jinks from Mars on Sunday evening.

Mars will be in opposition, meaning the Earth will be passing directly between Mars and the sun. That could make Mars brighter than any star or planet in the night sky.

So get your telescopes out.

If you watch the southeastern part of the sky Saturday night you might be able to see the shining Blue Moon while the Red Planet also beams a bright rusty-orange glow at the same time. Mars will be bright for the next couple of months.

By the time Mars reaches opposition, it will have quadrupled in brightness since the beginning of April, according to EarthSky.org.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/article78806182.html#storylink=cpy



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Stargazers To Get Rare Glimpse Of Blue Moon, Bright Mars This Weekend (Original Post) Purveyor May 2016 OP
Thanks OP, 11:00 PM in CA and I just took the telescope outside to enjoy the sight, Beautiful. Todays_Illusion May 2016 #1
We were out about an hour ago and saw a beautiful display indeed. Glad I caught this one. Purveyor May 2016 #2
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