Mars Buzzes the Beehive (evening)

During the first week of May, the eastward orbital motion of the planet Mars will carry it through the northern edge of the large, bright open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive and Messier 44. After dusk, you can locate the medium-bright, reddish dot of Mars shining about halfway up the western sky. Binoculars (orange circle) or a backyard telescope (green circle) will reveal “the Bees” sprinkled just to Mars’ lower left (or celestial south). Mars will approach the cluster from the right (celestial west) until Monday, May 4, when it will graze the outer part of the cluster. Every night after Monday, the cluster will move a little farther below Mars. The Beehive’s position close to the ecliptic allows it to be frequently visited by the moon and planets.