“Tonight’s Sky Show: Mars Shines Extra Bright as It Aligns for Opposition!”

(WIFR) – On the evening of January 16, the sun, Mars, and Earth will align.

This positions Mars precisely opposite the sun, rendering our observation of the red planet the most vivid and detailed possible.

Opposition occurs every 789 days, or just over two years, due to the slightly varied orbits of Mars and Earth. Earth completes an orbit around the sun every 365 days, while Mars takes 687 days.

Mars ascended into the sky from the northeast at 4:15 PM on Thursday, peaking just before midnight in the southern sky. Mars will descend at 7:39 AM on Friday in the northwest.

To locate Mars, look to the left of the heads of the Gemini constellation. If you are struggling to identify the constellation, you can utilize the big dipper for assistance. Begin by envisioning an imaginary line from the upper left of the bowl, where it connects to the handle, to the lower right of the bowl. Extend that line across the night sky until you encounter the two bright stars of Gemini.

Although Mars will shine brightest tonight, it is not at its perigee, the point at which it is nearest to Earth. This occurred on Sunday, January 12, when the planet was 59 million miles distant from Earth.

Tonight’s visibility may not be ideal as clouds are anticipated to linger overnight. Nevertheless, Mars will remain nearly at its brightest throughout February, so download the WIFR First Alert Weather App to stay informed about when sky conditions will be optimal for viewing.

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