On the night of Wednesday (Dec. 7) and into the early morning hours on Thursday (Dec. 8), Mars can be immediately reverse the sun within the sky in an astronomical association referred to as an opposition. Mars can be within the constellation Taurus whereas in opposition and can be seen for a lot of the night time reaching its highest level at round midnight native time throughout the globe.
Skywatchers in New York Metropolis will see the association from round 4:55 p.m. EST on Dec. 7 (2135 GMT) when it raises 7 levels over the horizon to the northeast based on In the Sky (opens in new tab). The Crimson Planet will attain its highest level within the sky 74 levels above the southern horizon, at round 11:41 p.m. EST (0441 GMT). Following this, Mars at opposition will disappear from view on Thursday morning (Dec. 8) when it sinks beneath 7 levels over the northwest horizon and disappears from view at roughly 6:27 a.m. EST (1127 GMT). (Your fist’s width at arm’s size equals about 10 levels within the sky.)
Tonight’s occasion of the Crimson Planet at opposition additionally occurs to coincide with the rise of the full Cold Moon, the final full moon of 2022, in addition to a lunar occultation of Mars as seen from many components of the globe. Take a look at our guide on viewing times and locations to see should you can witness the occultation from the place you occur to be. If you cannot see the occasion in individual, you’ll be able to nonetheless watch the lunar occultation of Mars on-line free of charge, courtesy of a number of webcasts from observatories around the globe.
Associated: What time will the full moon eclipse Mars on Dec. 7?
Mars is in opposition because of the means the solar system can be organized tonight. Mars, Earth, and the sun can be in a straight line with our planet and the Crimson Planet on the identical facet of our star. Earth will sit in the course of Mars and the sun, permitting the planet to look illuminated by the sun from our vantage level.
Throughout the opposition, Mars may even make its closest strategy to Earth, generally known as its perigee. This implies it is going to seem each brighter and bigger within the night time sky than traditional.
Whereas lots of the solar system’s planets get considerably brighter and bigger throughout their shut strategy to our planet, the impact is at its most excessive for Mars. The Crimson Planet shows the most important variation in its obvious dimension and brightness throughout perigee with its angular dimension growing by as a lot as seven instances.
This massive variation in Mars’ look is as a result of the space between Mars and Earth has a a lot bigger vary, from round 250 million miles (401 million kilometers) at its furthest to roughly 33.5 million miles (54 million km) at its closest. The typical distance between Earth, the solar system’s third planet, and Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, is round 140 million miles (225 million km).
As a result of Mars spends most of its time far-off from us the instances its orbit brings it near our planet and reverse to the sun within the sky provide skywatchers a wonderful alternative to watch the Crimson Planet.
In accordance with NASA (opens in new tab), Mars oppositions occur about each 26 months with the Crimson Planet rising within the east because the sun units within the west; following opposition, Mars then units within the west on the morning of Dec. 8 because the sun rises within the east. Mars will seems giant and brilliant for only a few weeks surrounding tonight’s astronomical association. Mars will subsequent be at opposition in January 2025.
Although Mars at opposition can be seen with the bare eye, to see the Crimson Planet as something greater than a speck of sunshine, skywatchers will want assistance from a telescope. If you happen to want a telescope and even binoculars, be certain that to learn our guides for the best binoculars and the best telescopes to view Mars at opposition and different celestial spectacles. For capturing the very best photos of Mars you can, do not miss our suggestions for the very best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s Be aware: If you happen to snap Mars throughout its opposition and wish to share it with Area.com’s readers, ship your picture(s), feedback, and your title and placement to spacephotos@space.com.
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