Saturday, November 30, 2024

Mars nears the Beehive (overnight)

As November comes to a close, the eastward orbital motion of Mars will be carrying the red planet towards the large open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive, Praesepe, and Messier 44. The cluster spans an area more than twice the size of the full moon. Mars and its scattered stars will easily
share the field of view in binoculars. In early December, Mars will slow to a stop and commence a westward retrograde loop that will keep the planet near
the Beehive cluster until the last week of December, giving imagers plenty of time to photograph the duo.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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