So frustrating! This morning at about 3am the sky over the Dordogne was crystal clear and a magnificent pitch black velvet backdrop for a dazzling multitude of stars. But there was one that was huge in comparison to the others and that had a distinct reddish hue. Really at least three times larger than any of the other stars. Judging by its position, size and colour, I was convinced that it had to be Mars -- and Mars as I have not seen it since 2003 when it was supposedly the closest to the earth than it normally would be. But this morning I find nothing that tells me more. All I can find at this stage is :
From October 1st 2010, Mars will be an evening Sky Planet that can be viewed after sunset before it goes down the horizon. It will set at about 8:19pm after Sun set at about 6:22pm Nigerian time respectively. Furthermore, from the 5th – 24th October 2010, Mars will be spotted in the Constellation of Libra and in-between the constellation of Libra and Scorpius from 25th – 29th of October 2010. On 30th and 31st of October 2010, Mars could be spotted in the Constellation of Scorpius. For the remaining part of the month of October 2010, Mars will remain an evening Planet.
Not at all a reflection of what I saw this morning.
UPDATE (9.10.10)Seems it is either Antares or Jupiter that has been waking me up every morning at around 3am, or perhaps even Mira -- the brightest long-period red variable star, which is also having an unusually bright maximum. As of October 7th many observers were reporting it at magnitude 3.1, very plainly visible to the naked eye.
Does anyone know anything about this current phenomenon in the northern hemisphere skies?
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