Big Month for Mars
December is a big month for viewing Mars. It is the bright, fiery “star” shining with a steady glow in the east during evening. Look for Mars in a rich sky area near Orion, according to the website of McDonald Observatory near Fort Davis, Texas. It helps to compare the color of Mars with that of the red giants Betelgeuse to its right and Aldebaran high to its upper right. Much later in the evening, this panoply climbs very high in the southeast and Saturn rises in the east below Regulus. The planets are lovely to behold. But they point to One who is more beautiful, glorious and satisfying - the One who spoke the universe into existence and sustains it with his power. When we look at the stars we echo Paul’s doxology: “(Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17). To read the whole chapter, click here. To watch a movie about tonight’s sky, click here.