How to See Mars from Earth: An Observational Guide

Mars, the red planet that astronomers love, is one of the easiest planets to observe in the entire solar system. Find out here everything about this planet.

Mars is a planet It can be easily seen from the ground A planet for all astronomy lovers Unleash your imagination. A planet that raises many questions, it can be observed every two years: you can see it Depending on its position in relation to the sun and our planet. You are currently in luck, because during the winter of 2023 Mars is visible.

The Red Planet seen from Earth

Depending on when you want to see Mars, It can be very easy for you. The best option is to try to locate him when he is near our planet You will recognize him very easily, since The glow of Mars has a reddish tint very special. This color is what made it symbolic God of War, Ares of Greek mythology and Mars in Roman mythology.

When can you see Mars?

If you decide to observe Mars from Earth, you will have to choose the moment to do it right. the reason is The distance between Mars and Earth varies greatly Depending on when you want to see it: Mars oscillates between a distance 56 and 400 million km. That is why you should look for the moment of maximum proximity to the Earth, which, as I said above, occurs every two years. That’s when Mars is visible From dusk till dawn.

As a result of iron oxide, which is abundant on the surface of Mars, this neighboring planet to Earth has a red color.

Winter 2023: Mars is closest to Earth

The winter of 2023 is a good year to see Mars from Earth, as the red planet will be all around it 80 million km (Something that hasn’t happened since 2018, when it was just put in place 57.7 million km). We’ll have to wait until the year 2025 And then up to a year 2035 To obtain such favorable distances. Looking at Mars, if you look closely, you’ll see the red planet in the form of a tablet About 65/70 degrees above the horizon, with The amount of brightness is -1.8. And if you look closely, you might get a chance to see weather disturbances. Also, if you look at Mars every night, you should know this period of rotation It is slightly longer than the length of the floor. Therefore, certain details will be visible Every night in the same place After about forty minutes the day before. This means if you look at the planet every night at the same time For 36 consecutive days, you will be able to see the entire surface of Mars.

How do you determine the location of Mars in the sky?

Mars appears a bright red star, Although it is already a planet). Just by looking up, if Mars is visible, you will easily spot it because of its brilliance. During the first months of 2023, due to its movement, as well as due to the movement of the Earth, the Red Planet crosses many constellations, some of it: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Taurus, Aquarius, Pisces and Aries. After that, you can also find the North Star.

Syrtis Major Planum is a “black spot” on Mars. Without a doubt one of the most important characteristics of this planet

What instrument should I use to view Mars?

It is true that you can see Mars with the naked eye, but it would be impossible for you to discern any kind of detail properly; Neither in the atmosphere nor on its surface. The same will happen with binoculars, as they will not be a very powerful tool for the task. So, for Look right at Mars, It is best to use a telescope with a diameter of at least 60 to 100 mm. It should also have strong magnification, so you can see some of the planet’s details. But, as a rule, you will need a telescope with a diameter of at least 115 to 130 mm, Plus a high magnification (up to 1.5 times the diameter of a telescope) so you can watch Mars surface details with some clarity. You will not reach the level of photos taken on the International Space Station, but you will be able to enjoy your own photos.

The Plain of Hellas Planetia or the Plain of Hellas is a plain located in the southern hemisphere of the Red Planet