Mars, the red planet that fans of astronomers are so passionate about, is one of the easiest to observe in the entire solar system. Discover here everything about this planet.
mars is a planet easily visible from Earth a planet with which all lovers of astronomy let your imagination run wild. A planet that raises many questions, observable every two years: you can see it depending on its position with respect to the Sun and our planet. You are currently in luck, since 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 it when it is close to our planet; you will recognize it very easily, since the glow of Mars has a reddish color very characteristic. That color was what made it the allegory of God of War, Ares for Greek mythology and Mars in Roman mythology.
Why is the planet Mars red?
The red color, characteristic of Mars, is due to a strong presence of iron oxide on the martian soil.
When can you see the planet Mars?
If you have decided to observe Mars from Earth, you will have to choose the moment to do it correctly. The reason is because the distance between Mars and Earth varies greatly depending on when you want to see it: Mars oscillates between a distance of 56 and 400 million kilometers. That is why you should look for the moment of maximum proximity to Earth, which, as I said above, occurs every two years. That’s when Mars is visible from dusk until dawn.
Winter 2023: Mars closer to Earth
The winter of 2023 is a good year to see Mars from Earth, since the red planet will be located about 80 million kilometers (something that had not happened since 2018, when it was placed just 57.7 million kilometers). We will have to wait until the year 2025 and then until the year 2035 to have such favorable distances. When looking at Mars, if you look closely, you will see the red planet disc shaped at about 65/70 degrees above the horizon, with a brightness magnitude of -1.8. And if you look more closely, you might get a chance to see atmospheric turbulences. Also, if you look at Mars every night, you should know that its rotation period it is slightly longer than Earth’s. Therefore, a certain detail will be visible every night in the same place for about forty minutes later than the day before. This means that if you look at the planet every night at the same time For 36 consecutive days, you will be able to see the entire Martian surface.
How to locate the planet Mars in the sky?
mars seems a bright star tinged with red, although it is actually a planet). Just by looking up, if Mars is visible, you’ll easily find it because of its brilliance. During the first months of 2023, due to its own movement, but also to that of the Earth, the red planet crosses many constellations, some of which are: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Taurus, Aquarius, Pisces and Aries. Following its wake, you can also find the polar star.
What instrument to use to view Mars?
It is true that you can see the planet Mars with the naked eye, but it will be impossible for you to correctly discern any type of detail; neither in its atmosphere nor on its surface. The same would happen with binoculars, since they would not be a very powerful instrument for this task. Therefore, for see correctly Mars, it is best to use a telescope that has a minimum diameter of 60 to 100 mm. It should also have a strong magnification, so you can see some detail of the planet. But, as a general rule, you will require a telescope at least 115 to 130 mm in diameter, as well as high magnification (up to 1.5 times the diameter of the telescope) so you can view details of the Martian surface with some clarity. You will not reach the level of the images that are captured in the International Space Station, but you will be able to enjoy your own images.
What can we see from the surface of Mars?
On the surface of Mars you can see phenomena such as the black spot of Syrtis Major, which owes its color to the basaltic rocks resulting from volcanic activity, or the large crater of Hellas Planitia, that exists as a consequence of the dust raised by the Martian winds. You can also see the planet’s north and south polar caps.