Maybe you noticed a bright reddish object near the moon last night. We'll look at Mars and the moon. You might have noticed a bright reddish object near the moon late last night or this morning before dawn. Just locate the moon and look for the bright reddish object nearby. Today Mars begins retrograde motion.
Planets generally appear to move toward the east in front of the star background.
But beginning today Mars will be moving toward the west. Once a planet begins retrograde motion, you know that world in space is in a special place to observe. That's because planets move in a retrograde manner around the time Earth passes between those worlds and the sun. Earth will pass between the sun and Mars on June 13. Between now and then Mars will be getting brighter and shifting into view earlier each evening.