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Mars will be at its largest and most luminous this month as it comes to its nearest position to Earth while being directly opposite the sun.
The Red Planet will reach its nearest point to Earth, referred to as perigee, on Jan. 12, and will sit exactly opposite the sun on Jan. 15. It will be observable throughout the night, as it will rise with the sunset and set with the sunrise.
A celestial body is labeled as “in opposition” when it lies directly between Earth and the sun, similar to the moon during a full moon phase. Mars will be completely illuminated by the sun, offering optimal viewing conditions from Earth.
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Mars’ opposition occurs approximately every two years and aligns with the planet’s retrograde movement, which started on Dec. 7 and will conclude on Feb. 23.
Retrograde phenomena happen when a planet seems to drift backward across the sky from Earth’s viewpoint. Mars experiences retrograde roughly every 26 months, lasting about 2½ months, making it the least frequent of the planets in our solar system.
Mars will ascend in the east at sunset on Jan. 15 and will be observable all night near the constellation Gemini.
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun in our solar system and is known as the Red Planet due to its substantial iron minerals that oxidize, or rust, giving it a reddish appearance.
The planet’s distinctive hue has been acknowledged throughout history across various cultures. Mars was named by the Romans after their war deity because of its blood-red shade. The Egyptians referred to it as “Her Desher,” translating to “the red one.”
Mars takes 687 days, equivalent to 1.8 years, to orbit the sun. It possesses two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
This story was revised to incorporate new details.
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