Mars will shine at its brightest level this year on Wednesday, when it reaches opposition. The rusty planet will glow brightly in the constellation Gemini, and reach peak shine around midnight.
It’s been a while since the ruby light of Mars has been in the sky. Every two years and two months, Mars gleams radiantly for only a brief time. The elliptical Martian orbit often keeps the planet farther from Earth than closer.
But when Mars draws closer, its appearance doesn’t look quite the same each time. In fact, it can vary quite a bit. When Mars reaches opposite position from the sun in relation to Earth, the planet is not always at its closest point to Earth.
There is a 15- to 17-year cycle when Mars can be exceptionally close to the Earth. This happens when Earth is at its farthest point from the sun and Mars is as its closest. It’s called a perihelic opposition, and it can be dazzling.
The most recent outstanding opposition took place in 2003, the nearest approach between the planets in nearly 60,000 years. Recently, 2018 had a great showing, but Mars won’t be fantastically close again until 2287.
This year’s opposition will be less bright than last time, although the brightest it will be until 2031. Another brilliant showing is expected in 2035.
First Published: January 14, 2025, 10:30 a.m.