Tonight is a good time to look at the moon in the early evening. It is in a waxing (growing larger) gibbous (more than half lit) phase, becoming full on Sunday.
If you look east at 7:30 p.m. tonight, the nearly 12-day-old moon will be 50 degrees above the horizon. It contrasts nicely with fiery red Mars, which will be 5 degrees directly north (to the left) of the moon. If you have had trouble recognizing Mars, tonight the moon will show the way to it.
Mars is bright at the moment and very well placed for viewing. Unfortunately, Mars is a challenging object for a telescope -it is never very large and requires very good optics plus a very steady atmosphere. When these conditions are met, Mars shows exquisite detail with large cloud formations, gigantic dust storms, polar ice caps and colorful land formations.
For the average visual observer, the distinct red color of Mars, when contrasted with a dark sky, is a most enjoyable sight.
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While you are enjoying Mars and the moon tonight, look directly south (to the right) of the moon to see bright Procyon in Canis Minor the Lesser Dog. Still farther south is Sirius in Canis Major the Greater Dog. The Dogs are the hunting companions of nearby Orion the Hunter.
Sirius is the brightest star in the sky.
If you look above the moon and Mars, you will be rewarded by seeing first Pollux and then a little higher Castor in Gemini the Twins. The moon will dim the sky a bit, but try to contrast the color of Mars (red) with Pollux (yellow or orange), Castor (white), Procyon (white) and Sirius (blue white). Star colors are like fine wines. It takes a while to appreciate them.
Tim Hunter has been an amateur astronomer since grade school. Contact him at skyspy@azstarnet.com