Two full moons October is not just a wonderful heavenly event. this week, Tue. Is approaching Earth by 2035 – and to see it, you need to see all the skywatchers.
Mars will shine brighter The whole month, But there are two rare days to see: October 6, when Mars approaches, and October 13, when the red planet is in opposition.
Close access
On Tuesday, October 6, the orbit of Mars comes closest to Earth. This year, the closest approach to Mars puts the planet about 38.59 million miles from Earth NASA.
The two planets have a minimum distance of about 33.9 million miles. Mars came close to Earth in 2003 for about 60,000 years – and it won’t be close again until 2287.
The bright look in the Mars night sky is easily visible to the naked eye, due to its bright orange-red color. It is visible most nights in the southern sky, reaching its peak around midnight, and close proximity means it is brighter than ever.
This year, October 6 comes close to 10 a.m. EDT, according to Arthaski. However, curious skywatchers can look around the moon all month to see an incredible view of the planet.
“Just go out and see and based on your local weather and lighting conditions, you should be able to see Mars,” NASA said.
If you miss out on approaching this year, the next one will be December 8, 2022. However, NASA said it would be 15 years before the planet’s spectacular appearance again due to the planet’s slightly tilted elliptical orbit and gravitational tugging.
“The Red Planet comes close enough to be seen only once or twice every 15 or 17 years,” the space agency said. The next time Mars is close to Earth, it will be in 2035.
NASA
Mars in protest
The earth makes two journeys around the sun in the same amount of time it takes to make one journey to Mars. This means that, at times, both planets are on opposite sides of the sun – a phenomenon called antagonism that occurs every two years.
This year’s close approach to Mars coincides with resistance, a particularly rare event. From a human point of view on Earth, the red planet is rising in the east just as the sun is setting in the west, just the opposite of every morning.
When Mars is in opposition, the Red Planet and the Earth are closest to each other in their orbits. Mars is currently at its brightest, making it easier to spot the night sky with the naked eye.
This year, on October 13, E.D.T. Reaching the opposition at around 7 pm, according to Arthaski.
Due to the close proximity of Mars, many nations are currently sending spacecraft to the planet, including NASA’s March 2020 mission. The Perseverance Rover will land on the Red Planet in February 2021.
