The evening sky offers us two planets for viewing, at bookends. The red planet Mars is low in the southwestern sky. The bright planet Jupiter is at the opposite end of the sky, rising in the eastern sky a short time after sunset.

 

The two planets couldn’t be more dramatically different in appearance. Mars is a dull red and resides in the zodiacal constellation Gemini. Take a look towards the western sky, where the sun previously set. Mars is a bit of a challenge to find. It is not as brilliant as the planets we are used to spotting.

 

Mars is clearly red and there is not another celestial object in the western sky with that color. We’ve only got about a month of good viewing of Mars, before it fades more and eventually appears in the glare of the setting sun.

 

Jupiter is so bright, rising in the eastern sky. You can’t miss it.