Conjunction between Mars and NGC 6530

Mars and NGC6530 will make a close approach, passing within 0°36′ of each other.

The pair will visible in the west in the early evening sky. At the moment of closest approach, Mars will be at mag 0.5, and NGC6530 at mag 4.6, both in the constellation Sagittarius.

The pair will be a little too widely separated to fit comfortably within the field of view of a telescope, but will be visible to the naked eye or a through pair of binoculars.

At a declination of -24°19′ , they will be seen to best advantage in the southern hemisphere; in fact, they will be unobservable from latitudes north of 45°N.