Bhubaneswar: The NASA timeline shows Mars will be at perigee (closest) on January 12, which means the planet's orbit around the Sun will carry it to its closest point to the Earth, passing within 0.64 AU (astronomical units) of us.
As per the report, Mars orbits the Sun in an elliptical path, meaning its distance from Earth changes continuously as both planets travel around the Sun.
Approximately every 26 months, Mars and the Sun align with Earth in a configuration known as opposition.
This is when Mars and the Sun are on directly opposite sides of Earth. Around the time of opposition, Mars and Earth are closest to each other in their orbits.
UP-CLOSE WITH EARTH
When Mars is at perigee and in opposition, it is not only closest to Earth but also fully illuminated by the Sun from our(viewing from earth) perspective, appearing very bright in the night sky.
The NASA report says, “This makes it an excellent time for astronomical observation and photography, as details of the Martian surface can be seen more clearly through telescopes.
In 2025, Mars will be at opposition on January 15, just three days after its perigee.
The NASA reports says, the Moon will occult the planet, temporarily hiding it from view, and it can be seen in the naked eye for viewers in North America and West Africa on January 13. It said, “The occultation will begin at 20:44 EST on January 13 and end at 00:52 EST (eastern time) on January 14.
WHEN TO SEE MARS IN BHUBANESWAR?
The best time to view the close-up moments of Mars in the Capital City of Odisha has been given below.
Any time after 6 pm, as the planet rises at around 5:20pm and sets at 6:42 am on Jan 16.
Mars visibility will remain perfect till Jan 20 in the Capital city of Bhubaneswar.
Don’t miss to view the Red Planet up-close with the earth. If one misses this celestial opportunity this year, one has to wait till Feb 2027. Mars hasn’t been in opposition since 2022.
