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The Red Planet reaches its optimal position all year this week. Here’s how and when you can step outside and catch a glimpse of it.
The Red Planet won’t appear this superb through any telescope, but due to its proximity to Earth, now is the prime time this year to observe it. Credit: NASA/JPL/USGS
On January 15, Mars will reach a position in its orbit referred to by astronomers as opposition. That evening, Mars will be situated directly opposite the Sun from our viewpoint. It will rise at dusk, attain its highest altitude at midnight, and set at daybreak.
No matter when you venture out, Mars will be visible somewhere in the heavens. Plus, it’ll be quite luminous as well. This brightness is due to Mars being at its closest point to Earth during this orbit at opposition. The true closest approach takes place three days prior, on January 12.
Big and Bright
On the 15th, Mars will glow at a magnitude of –1.4, essentially matching the brightness of the most brilliant nighttime star, Sirius, which resides in the constellation Canis Major the Great Dog. You’ll locate that star pattern approximately a quarter of the way across the sky to the southern side of Mars.
Mars will also seem larger than at any other point this year. Astronomers utilize angles to gauge the size of celestial entities. At opposition, the diameter of the Red Planet will be 14.6 arcseconds, typically denoted as 14.6″. This isn’t significant. For perspective, 1″ is the angle a dime covers from a mile distant.
To observe any details on Mars, even at opposition, you will require at least a medium-sized telescope, an eyepiece that magnifies around 100x, and a night of optimal atmospheric conditions (stability). If the air is turbulent, the stars will shimmer excessively and details — even through a telescope — will appear blurred.
The Changing Sky
There’s an additional method to observe Mars, and this one doesn’t need a telescope. Pay attention to Mars’ location in relation to the two bright stars situated above it. That pair consists of Castor and Pollux, which signify the heads of the constellation Gemini the Twins. Once you identify the planet’s location, venture out every few nights for a month. You’ll witness Mars gradually moving westward through Gemini relative to Castor and Pollux.
Whichever way you choose to observe it, take a moment to gaze at the Red Planet and perhaps ponder whether robotic spacecraft will ever uncover signs of microscopic life there. Don’t delay for Mars’ next opposition, which is not scheduled until February 19, 2027. It will appear somewhat fainter and smaller then, so now is the moment. Good luck!
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