This image was taken with my Nikon D40, which has an APS-C sensor, paired with a legacy 35 mm lens; this results in a zoom level equivalent to that of a full frame sensor camera using an 52mm lens. The image was sharpened, brightened and contrast adjusted during post processing.

Mars is in the southerly part of its orbit. See how far be-low the ecliptic Mars is when you mouseover the image.

Mars is winding down an above average opposition year, during which it came to opposition in May in the constellation Scorpius.  It has been moving eastward against the stars with ever greater rapidity and is now scooting across Capricornus.  Mars is still bright at magnitude +0.55, which is approximately the brightness of Betelgeuse.  Unannotated image.