Mars has moved almost all the way across Gemini and in two days will be in Cancer. Because Mars is still on the upward slope of its orbit, it continues to gain altitude over the ecliptic in advance of its northward oriented retrograde loop. On this morning, Mars is magnitude +0.16 and is 8.9" in diameter. For comparison, Pollux is magnitude +1.15 and Castor +1.58. Not shown on this image because it is off the bottom edge is Procyon, which is magnitude +0.40. |