Mouse over the links to see the annotation

Mars, dim and solitary, continues to race eastward above the ecliptic in western Virgo.  Here we see him between β and η Virginis, also known by their IAU recognized proper names as Zavijava and Zaniah, respectively.  Mars is at magnitude +1.60 this evening and only 4.32" across.  I am hoping that with this image we can begin to track Mars' progress with respect to Spica by including both of them in our images until their conjunction on 13 September.