The sky is witnessing a unique astronomical phenomenon as the planet Mars disappears behind the sun for weeks. This disappearance is caused by a solar conjunction, in which Mars takes its orbit to the far side of the Sun and out of sight. This phenomenon is called “solar conjunction of Mars,” and it occurs approximately once every two years.
During solar conjunction, Mars is separated from the Sun by less than one degree, causing it to completely disappear from Earth’s sky. The red planet is on the opposite side of the Sun, which means it will not be visible for several weeks as it is hidden by the star’s glare from the Sun.
This phenomenon delays the transmission of commands to NASA’s Martian fleet for two weeks. This solar conjunction is considered a challenge for NASA’s mission, as it relies heavily on robotic rovers such as the Curiosity rover and the Perseverance rover operating on the surface of Mars. Also, the Mars helicopter will be offline during this period.
Mars is separated from Earth by more than two and a half times their normal distance during solar conjunction. This means that the distance between Mars and Earth is about 235 million miles (375 million km), instead of the normal distance of about 140 million miles (225 million km).
Although this astronomical phenomenon is important, it does not have a major impact on sky watchers. But it may provide an opportunity for NASA for scientific research and exploration when communication with spacecraft and robots is restored over the time period of solar conjunction with Mars.
