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On October 14, Mars will come very close to Earth in opposition, putting on a great show for eager astronomers.
The last time the red planet was in opposition, when the planet is located on the opposite side from the sun, with the Earth sandwiched in the middle, was on July 27, 2018.
The opposition moves on a 26-month cycle, but the close encounters of each orbit differ.
The brightness of the planet in orbit this year will not repeat itself until 2035, as the closest encounters, less than 60 million kilometers, only occur every 15 to 17 years.
Mars is visible, in different sizes, in the night sky during October and November.
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“It’s just a good time to see Mars, the next two weeks in particular, but until November,” said researcher and space scientist Duncan Steel.
The planet, located in the constellation Pisces, is visible in the eastern sky at night, rising above the horizon shortly after 8 pm It is not set until after 7 am in the west.
As the weeks progress, it will rise earlier, around 7.30pm on October 13. Steel recommended going out to see him between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
“It is very easy to see, being the brightest object visible at that time of night.”
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Mars will be in opposition and close to Earth on October 14.
“You can not lose this! It’s that bright pink ‘star’ in the east rising in the sky. “
The planet does not shine like a star due to its proximity to Earth.
“[Planets] they are close enough to us on Earth to subtend a disk, while stars appear as points of light; the scintillation is due to turbulence in the lower atmosphere, some [kilometres] above our heads. “
The planet may be visible from places like Queen Street in Auckland, but seeing it from a dark place is better, weather permitting.
“People with good eyesight can see what a disk is, without the need for a telescope.
“With a small telescope or binoculars it is a good sight, and you should be able to see the southern white polar cap, simply.”
