Today 2:18 PMLast updated today 5:13 PM
Mars, also known as the ‘red planet’, is clearly visible in the coming period when the nights clear up. This is because the planet is in ‘opposition’. Although Mars is not a star, the planet can be seen with the naked eye as a bright, red-colored “star” in the sky.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQE1HisW8Nk
Opposition
Opposition means that the sun and some other celestial body are on the opposite side of the Earth. As a result, the planet is best illuminated by the sun in relation to the earth and the planet is also closest. Mars is in opposition every 26 months. Another example of a celestial body that can be in opposition is the moon. The moon is in monthly opposition and when that happens we speak of a full moon.
To be precise, Mars will be in opposition to Earth this Wednesday, October 14 at 1:26 AM. In the weeks surrounding the opposition, the planet can be seen extra clearly. The entire month of October you have the chance to see the planet clearly when it is clear.
Clear periods tonight
The next night is not ideal for spotting stars and planets, because it is not completely clear. Tonight it will be partly cloudy inland, so there will be clear periods there, along the coast it will be mainly cloudy. The following nights there will be more cloud cover, only the second half of next week does the chance of clear weather clearly increase. If it is clear tonight / tonight at your location and you want to try to see Mars: the planet can be seen from 8 p.m. on the eastern horizon, according to sky.observe.com. The planet is at its brightest around midnight and in the morning, after 7:00 am, the planet sets at the western horizon.
Interesting for astronomy and space travel
Opportunities like these are eagerly seized by amateur astronomers and space agencies alike. Because the planet is so close now, certain features of the planet, such as the polar caps, can already be seen by a relatively simple telescope. Space agencies are also happy to use this period to send rovers towards Mars: because the distance is now shorter than normal, the devices do not have to travel as far.
Will you be taking beautiful photos of the starry sky with Mars as the protagonist in the coming period? Send them to [email protected]!
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