From the October 2009 issue

Mars set for prime time

December 2009: Jupiter and Mars draw the top headlines in December's evening sky.
By and | Published: October 26, 2009 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
December 2009 path of Mars finder chart
Mars shifts direction against the background stars of Leo the Lion around mid-December. The start of this “retrograde loop” heralds the planet’s opposition in late January.
Astronomy: Roen Kelly

Jupiter and Mars draw the top headlines in December’s evening sky. But while Jupiter is nearing the end of its current evening visibility, Mars is just beginning. Mercury joins the action right after sunset starting the second week of the month.