Tonight: Spot Mars as It Cradles the Moon With Aldebaran

Everyone’s an astrologer around the time of Spring Festival as the whole of China attempts to predict their fortune for the New Year. But now that the holiday has passed, it’s time to switch the gears of our upward gaze with a pivot to astronomy.

Just as NASA’s latest rover Perseverance got its first look at the Red Planet yesterday, you too can catch a glimpse of the red planet tonight – if weather permits.

It’s a phenomenon the Chinese call 双星拱月 shuāngxīng gǒng yuè two stars cradle the moon, in which one of those “stars” is in fact the planet Mars.

In urban Beijing, with its light pollution and haze, you may struggle to see more than the half moon in its first-quarter stage. But if you happen to find yourself in stargazing territory, then it’s time to glance up – or even grab the telescope! – and see if you can spot Mars just to the right of the moon.

Then to its left, a bit farther out but shining equally as bright, the star Aldebaran will be visible, appearing to work with Mars to “cradle” the moon for the night.

The shuangxing gong yue last occurred in November 2020, and featured an additional star that formed a “smile” around the moon. However, that is because we are currently in a period in which Mars and Earth’s orbits are relatively near each other. Mars only comes close enough for exceptional viewing every 15 years or so, so don’t expect to be spotting the planet for much longer.

READ: Fireworks Were Banned, So What Was With the CNY Smog?

Image: People's Daily