Three Faces of Mars Page

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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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

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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

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 MISSION COMPLETE!

MARS MISSION FAILURES

LIFE ON MARS

HUMAN EXPLORATION OF MARS - EXPEDITIONS and COLONIES

FACE OF MARS

Last Modified: 7/26/22

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