Mars Nears Opposition

The -1.84 magnitude planet Mars (center, just above tree line) sets in the western sky before the coming dawn as seen from Bowman Woods Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa at 6:19 am CST on Saturday, December 3, 2022. The 0.06 magnitude star Capella in the constellation Auriga is seen at upper right. Air temperature was 13 degrees. Image is a 10 second exposure at f/4, ISO 400, 26mm focal length. The brightening Red Planet is approaching its December 8 date when it will be in opposition--its highest point in the sky and closest distance to Earth. This last occurred in January, 2007. 

Fast forward to Saturday evening. This panoramic image looks east (left) to south (right) over the Bowman Woods neighborhood of Cedar Rapids at 6:30 pm. Air temperature was 18 degrees F. 6 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 250, 11mm focal length. Sky objects were: -1.85 magnitude planet Mars (just right of the large tree at left; the constellation Taurus (right of Mars); the star cluster Pleiades above Taurus; the glare of the moon (top); and the -2.57 magnitude planet Jupiter at upper right. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.