JohnK

Earth and Mars are passing closer in their respective orbits than they will for several years: 55 million miles on Tuesday. Mars was quite spectacular this morning in the pre-dawn hours. The color reminded me of that peachy orange hue of mercury vapor street lamps.

You don't have to get up to view Mars in the wee hours of the morning, as I did. In fact, it should be visible soon after nightfall.

JohnK

toejam

What part of the sky will you find it in, morning & evening?

Troop198

Look in the eastern sky best day is 12/18 at night it will be the brightest object

Venus is also easily visible in eastern predawn skies and is 10 times brighter maybe Len can chip in

JohnK

FWIW, the following link includes a chart showing the position of Mars relative to Orion and Taurus, but with clear skies, you really can't miss it. Nothing else in the sky is as reddish orange in color.

How to see Mars in early evening in#December » skywatching | Earth & Sky

As Troop198 said, Mars is in the east after nightfall. In the predawn hours, it's in the western sky.

JohnK

lphilpot

Here's a quick finderchart made in SkyTools for Amarillo, 9pm, 12/18, looking east : http://philpot.org/mars.png

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