This month, an ominous red “star” is rising in the east, easily visible not long after sunset. That’s no star, of course; it is planet Mars.

This month was a particularly fine time to look for planets. For example, on 27 July Mars was visible right near the Moon, just past full, while all the other planets – even tiny, elusive Mercury – was visible in the night sky. Venus is still the brightest of the planets, but Mars was even brighter than Jupiter (high overhead) this month.