Mars is set to shine bright in the night sky, offering a fascinating spectacle for stargazers. At opposition on January 16th, the Red Planet will appear with a magnitude of -1.38, making it a tempting target for observers. While its color has long been debated, recent observations reveal a more nuanced palette that includes gold, salmon, and peach hues.
NASA’s rovers have captured images of Mars’ terrain, showcasing a predominantly terra cotta-hued landscape due to the prevalence of iron oxide in the planet’s surface. However, if all the dust were to be vacuumed up, the result would be a far blander Mars, with its crust composed primarily of dark gray, basaltic rock.
Oppositions of Mars occur approximately every 2 years and 2 months, when Earth and the planet align on the same side of the Sun. This alignment increases Mars’ brightness and apparent size as seen through a telescope. Despite its eccentric orbit, Mars’ disk will still be visible to mid-northern latitude observers, offering ample opportunities for telescopic detail.
One of the most prominent features currently visible is the North Polar Cap, a gleaming carbon dioxide ice cap that can be observed even at low magnification. As spring deepens into summer on Mars, the Sun’s warmth will cause the ice to vaporize and expose a smaller residual water-ice cap. Regular observers can watch this process unfold.
Another challenge for stargazers is identifying dark albedo markings, such as the eastern “Mare Sirenum” hemisphere. However, with high magnification and excellent conditions, Olympus Mons’ bright orographic clouds can be spotted. A 24/7 perspective on Martian features can be found in Sky & Telescope’s Mars Profiler.
Before attempting to observe Mars, note that moon occultations often occur during oppositions. On January 13-14, the full Wolf Moon will cover Mars for much of North America, creating a spectacular spectacle. To plan your observations, visit the International Occultation Timing Association’s Mars occultation page and join the marsobservers group for updates on current events on the Red Planet.
Source: https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/mars-extravaganza-occultation-and-opposition-rolled-into-one