2021, March 13: Mars, Star Clusters

March 13, 2021: Mars continues its eastward march through Taurus.  It is between the Pleiades star cluster and the Hyades star cluster.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois:  Sunrise, 6:05 a.m. CST; Sunset, 5:55 p.m. CST.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times for your location.

Mars continues its eastward march through Taurus.  While not as bright as it was several weeks ago, it is easily found between the Pleiades star cluster and the Hyades star cluster.  The planet is about the same brightness and color as Aldebaran, the brightest star in Taurus.

Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster, a “check-mark shape,” is the face and head of the Bull.  Together, the star and star cluster make the “V of Taurus.”  Gamma Tauri (γ Tau on the chart) is at the point of the celestial letter. This evening Mars passes 7.2° to the upper right of the star.

Mars in a few evenings Mars is near Kappa Tauri (κ Tau) and Upsilon Tauri (υ Tau).  Make nightly observations of the planet’s position compared to the starry background.

Notice that Mars is approaching a line that starts at Aldebaran and goes through Epsilon Tauri (ε Tau).

Here’s more about Mars during 2021.

Read about Mars during March.

Detailed Note: The moon is at its New phase at 4:21 a.m. CST. Forty-five minutes before sunrise, Saturn is nearly 9° in altitude above the southeast horizon.  Jupiter – nearly 5° in altitude above the east-southeast horizon – is 9.6° to the lower left of Saturn. One hour after sunset, Mars is 56.0° up in the west-southwest The Red Planet passes 7.2° to the upper right of Gamma Tauri (γ Tau, m = 3.6).  The star is near the point of the “V” of Taurus in the Hyades star cluster.  Through a telescope spot κ Tau, 2.8° to the upper left of Mars, while υ Tau is 3.0° to the planet’s upper left.

Read more about the planets during March 2021.