[CLICK ON IMAGE FOR HIGH RESOLUTION, Sebastian Voltmer]

Wandering through this stunning field of view, Mars really is in front of these colorful cosmic clouds.

The mosaic contructed from telescopic images is about 5 degrees (10 full moons) across. It captures the planet’s position on Aug. 26, over 7 light-minutes from Earth and very near the line-of-sight to bright star Antares and the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex.

In the exposure yellow-hued Mars, above and left, is almost matched by Antares, also known as Alpha Scorpii, below center.

Globular star cluster M4 shines just right of Antares, but M4 lies some 7,000 light-years away compared to Antares’ 500 light-year distance.

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  Antares and M4, Mars poses with the stars