Three Faces of Mars Page

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Mars Oppositions

When Mars is at opposition on December 8, 2022, the red planet will be in the constellation of Taurus. This opposition is considered a transitional opposition as it falls between the perihelion and aphelion positions according to where the red planet is in its orbit of the Sun. Mars is expected to shine at -1.8 magnitude at opposition.

Check out Astra's new Mars Exploration page now live at the Stargate! Learn about all of the incredible succesful exploration missions that have been exploring the red planet.

Check out Astra's Mars at Opposition page for more information on oppositions.

Current Mars Opposition: December 8, 2022

Next Mars Opposition: January 16, 2025

Past Oppositions:
October 13, 2020 Mars was located in Pisces
July 27, 2018 in Capricornis.
May 22, 2016 the planet was located in the constellation of Scorpius.

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Some Recent Mars News

NASA's Mars InSight detected a magnitude 5 earthquake (marsquake?) on the red planet on May 4, 2022. This is the largest quake ever recorded at Mars and comes when the lander is experiencing problems because of dust covering its solar panels. Because the panels provide its power it is not certain how long it will be operational on the surface. The quake is the type of event on Mars that the lander was sent to detect. On December 24, 2021, Insight detected the impact of a meteoroid strike in the Amazonis Planitia region of Mars causing a crater about 492 feet or 150 meters across. The impact site was found later by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Mars Insight landed on the surface of Mars on December 18, 2018.

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The 2022 Perihelic Apparition of Mars - From Jeffrey D. Beish/ALPO

Mars 2022 -from SEDS

A.L.P.O. MARS Section

- - A.L.P.O Mars Observers images can be found on groups.io

British Astronomical Association (BAA) Mars Section

Observing Mars - Jeffrey D. Beish

Why is Mars sometimes bright and sometimes faint? - by Deborah Byrd at EarthSky

Mars at opposition 2022 - In-The-Sky.org

Mars Tools

Google Mars - Also check out the add-in available on Google Earth for Mars Information
Mars Which Side is Visible? - Find out with this application from Sky and Telescope Magazine

THE GREAT 2003 OPPOSITION OF MARS

The 2003 apparition of Mars was purported to be the closest opposition to Mars in recorded history. According to sources, Earth came closer to Mars than it has been since 12,000 BC! The angular diameter of Mars was greater that 25 arc seconds, allowing amateurs to see and record the best detail ever.

Check out some great images on the historic opposition: Mars Apparition 2003. - from damianpeach.com ! This is a great place to find astrophotos and information.

MARS PAGES & INFO

Astra's Guide to Mars Exploration - NEW!

Astra's Curiosity Rover page - exploring Mars for 20 years

Astra's Perseverance Rover page - largest rover ever sent to the red planet

Astra's Mars 2020 page - featuring missions that launched in the summer of 2020

Mars Exploration Program - at JPL
NASA - Exploring Planet Mars - Resources for educators

The Opposition Cycle of Mars - From Jeffrey D. Beish

Observing the Planet Mars from your backyard - Love the Night Sky

NASA Glenn Participation in Mars Pathfinder

Planet Mars, Mars Exploration and Mars Missions - from SEDS

Observing the Planet Mars: Dust Storms - - From Jeffrey D. Beish

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The Three Faces of Mars page, in part, takes its name from the " Face on Mars" feature taken by the spacecraft Viking 1 orbiter many years ago. The three Mars disks are a product of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Today, ESA has created a movie of the martian feature, the Cydonia face. This link will take you to the movie, Cydonia's 'Face on Mars' in 3D animation from the European Space Agency.

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OBSERVING

A.L.P.O. Mars Section

The Planet Mars: A History of the Observation and Discovery - available at Amazon by William Sheehan

Global 3D maps of Mars

Shallow Sky - Mars Observing FAQ and Links: 2007 Opposition

Observing the Planet Mars - From ALPO and Jeff D. Beish.

This is a very comprehensive guide to oberving the red planet, loaded with observing history, equipment, features of Mars and its atmosphere, equipment and how to observe.

Exploring Mars with Robots

Because every 26 months Earth passes the planet Mars that orbits the Sun at a greater distance, this brings the two planets to their closest distance. We can't afford to miss even one opposition, because every opposition is an opportunity!

MARS MISSIONS

UAE Al-Amal - United Arab Emirates Mars Mission

United Arab Emirates' Mars Mission "Al-Amal" or "Hope" reached Mars on February 9, 2021. Al-amal is currently orbiting Mars and sending back data. Check the Al-Amal webpage for results.

- Find out more about the Hope Mission

Tianwen-1 launched by China National Space Administration (CNSA) from Hainan Island on July 23.arriving at Mars on February 10, 2021. The Tianwen-1 orbiter and Zhurong rover are still successfully operating at Mars.

- Find out more about the Tianwen-1 Mission

Mars Perseverance Rover - Launched on July 30, 2020, landed on Mars February 18, 2021.

NASA's Mars Perseverance Rover reached Mars on February 18, 2021. Perseverence is operating on Mars and as of this update the Ingenuity helicopter has accomplished 24 successful flights.

- Find out more at Astra's about the Perseverance Rover

ExoMars Orbiter - Roscosmos State Corporation and ESA's Mars mission

ExoMars launched successfully on March 14, 2016 and is in orbit and returning great scientific data. The second stage mission of ExoMars ia a rover that was to launch the 2022 Mars opposition. The mission was delayed as mentioned above. The rover is named Rosalind Franklin after the woman scientist who discoved the double helix structure of DNA.

MAVEN - Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) Over 7 years in orbit

Mars InSight - Launched May 2018, landed November 26, 2018. It recent recorded a strong quake on Mars as highlighted above.

Mars Curiosity Rover - landed August 5, 2012. This rover is exploring Gale crater

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission - over 60,000 spins around planet Mars. Over 16 years in orbit!

Mars Express- European Space Agency

Arrived at Mars 12/2003. Mission: map Mars surface, study mineral composition, and atmosphere.

Mars Odyssey - Over 18 years in orbit!

Arrived at Mars 12/2003. Mission: map Mars surface, study mineral composition, and atmosphere. Mars Odyssey's THEMIS instrument images were used to construct an accurate global map of Mars(over 21,000 images.)

During the 2020 opposition, three Mars Exploration missions were launched. July 2020 was an exciting time for Mars fans. See the Mars Exploration 2020 page for more details. Sadly, the major Mars mission planned for launch during the 2022 opposition, ExoMars was suspended by ESA due to sanctions imposed on Russia by its members because of the Ukraine invasion.

Also check out these sites for more Mars mission information:

Mars Exploration Center - NASA's Mars Exploration Site includes the missions above and more

Mars Missions - from The Planetary Society

MARS MISSION COMPLETE!

Mars Global Surveyor Mission - Orbited Mars from 1997 to 2006

Mars Survey 98 Project Malin Space Science Systems

JPL Mars Pathfinder also check on JPL's newsletter - Martian Chronicles

JPL Mariner 4 Home Page

Mariner 4 images - from NSSDC NASA mission image archive

Viking Mission page from JPL

MARS MISSION FAILURES

Mars Climate Orbiter