December 17, 200718 yr http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/ArtAndPhoto-Fronts/TECH/Dec/071213/g-tec-071214-mars-slideshow-7p.grid-4x2.jpg Mars shines bright in December Planet will not be this close to Earth until year 2016 Mars will be closer to Earth this month than any time until the year 2016. The red planet is now the brightest "star" in the evening sky and is already above the horizon as evening twilight fades away. But give it at least two more hours ? until about 8 p.m. ? for it to climb above the poor atmospheric seeing that's near the horizon. By then, this brilliant yellow-orange world will be at an altitude of around 30 degrees as seen from mid-northern latitudes. Your clenched fist held at arm's length is roughly equal to 10 degrees, so by 8 p.m. Mars will be about "three-fists" up from the east-northeast horizon. Mars appears much sharper and steadier when it crosses the southern meridian, about a half hour after local midnight. Its altitude as seen from most mid-northern latitudes is then about 75-degrees (more than "seven fists" up from the southern horizon).
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