Jupiter Rising

Posted by Kelly Whitt Jul 7, 2008

A brilliant new light is making people take notice after sunset. In the southeast, Jupiter is now far enough above the horizon in the early evening to make its presence known to anyone who looks. It is so bright that it is outshining all other stars and planets at the moment.

Jupiter is at magnitude -2.7. It is currently lying to the upper left of the handle of the teapot in Sagittarius.

If Jupiter caught your eye, you may also notice a star a little more to the south than Jupiter and shining a reddish hue. This is Antares. Antares is a rival of Mars, which sports a similar color. Mars is the name for the Roman God of War, and Ares is this same god in Greek. So Mars may also be called Ares. Therefore, the Anti Ares, or rival of Mars, is the star Antares.