“Celestial Showdown: Witness the 2025 Mars Opposition with BBC Sky at Night”

Mars will achieve opposition on 16 January 2025, when the planet is positioned directly opposite the Sun in the sky.

In precise terms, the planet is located 180° of ecliptic longitude away from the Sun.

During opposition, the separation between a superior planet (those with orbits larger than that of Earth) and our planet is at its closest for the viewing duration.

This results in the opposing planet appearing at its most substantial and radiant for that time, making it optimal for observation.

Will the Mars opposition in 2025 be favorable?

There are a few considerations regarding the 2025 Mars opposition.

Initially, the gap between Earth and Mars is at its lowest point on 12 January, four days prior to the technical opposition.

Furthermore, this opposition is classified as aphelic, indicating that Mars is situated closer to the farthest point of its orbit around the Sun, thus being more remote from Earth.

The unfortunate aspect is that Mars will only achieve an apparent diameter of 14.6 arcseconds in January 2025.

The silver lining is it will do so from a very advantageous location in the sky, high within the constellation of Gemini, reaching an altitude of 62° under pristine sky conditions.

Mars commenced January 2025 with brilliance, shining at magnitude –1.2.

It traverses from Cancer to Gemini over the course of the month, moving in a westerly (retrograde) path.

On 14 January at 04:30 UT, the Red Planet is located 26 arcminutes north of the full Moon’s center.

By the month’s end, Mars will shine at magnitude –1.1 and possess an apparent diameter of 13.8 arcseconds, achieving a peak altitude of 63°.

January 2025 presents an excellent opportunity to observe this captivating planet through a telescope, documenting its darker surface features, polar caps, weather, and sporadic dust storms.

Mars opposition 2025 quick facts

• Optimal viewing time: 12 January, 00:48 UT
• Altitude: 62°
• Position: Gemini
• Orientation: South
• Visible Features: Polar caps, surface markings, weather
• Suggested Equipment: 75mm telescope or larger

If you observe or capture images of Mars during the 2025 opposition, share your experiences and photos with us at contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com