So I’m sitting on my front porch enjoying a glass of rum when I notice a really bright point of reddish light in the sky. It’s a hot and humid night and not a lot of stars are out, but this sucker is shining like an orange instrument panel warning light.
It’s not an aircraft or satellite and it’s moving at the rate of the earth’s rotation. It looks like it might be Mars, but I’ve never seen it so bright. A bit of Googling reveals that Mars is currently at one of its closest approaches. My Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope is still packed away somewhere in the basement from a move ten years ago, and I should really get it out.
For the indoors types, go out and have a look* – it’s quite a remarkable sight. The bright red glow could never be mistaken for an ordinary star.
- after consulting your astronomical charts, of course!
