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Mars Opposition 2018-2019

Mars, in 2018, is part of the Mars Observation Campaign of 2018-2019 as it constitutes further a perihelic opposition! A Mars observation campaign is a period of time when Mars turns to its better observable for amateur astronomers, comprising the opposition proper. Due to its relative proximity, Mars is reaching a opposition each 26 months only and not each year like the other superior planets do. The opposition of a superior planet, a planet located beyond Earth relative to the Sun is when it is aligned with the Sun and Earth, providing about its best observable in terms of apparent diameter and magnitude. The planet then rises at sunset and sets at sunrise. for more about superior planets and the remarkable moment of their orbital positions, check our Planets Apparent Motion tutorial. Afficionados are introducing the concept of a 'Mars Observation Campaign', or 'Martian Observation Campaign,' which is a wide span of time spanning either side the date of opposition, from when the Red Planet is reaching to 6" of apparent diameter to when it comes back to that value, value the afficionados deems the minimal to have the planet worth the observation. La particularité de la campagne martienne d'observation 2018-2019 est qu'il s'agit d'une opposition périhélique. The Mars Observation Campaign 2018-2019 is that it constitutes a 'perihelic opposition.' At the same time Mars is at is nearest to the Earth, it is, on its orbit, at its nearest of the Sun. Such peculiar oppositions take place only every 15 to 17 years. As at its last perihelic oppositions (1971, 1988, 2003), Mars displayed a disk of respectively 24.9, 23.8, and 25.15", the Red Planet, this summer will be 24.2" wide, and brighter than Jupiter at its best, at the -2.8nd magnitude. It is said that one may see at most five perihelic oppositions in a lifetime! Due to celestial mechanics, such closenesses are going to become relatively frequent in the future as, based on the progressive shift of both Earth and Mars' orbits and on Mars orbit's Jupiter-tugged elongation (the orbit is getting elongated, perihelion getting closer, aphelion farther), further perihelic opposition will have Mars' perihelion closer to Earth. Between now and the year 3,000 thus, there will be 7 perihelic oppositions (the closest being the one of 2729, Mars being at 34,580,000 miles from the Earth; other reliable source gives the year 2287)

ow Mars will appear in the sky of the northern hemisphere about the opposition of the Mars Observation Campaign 2018-2019! site 'Amateur Astronomy' based upon Stellarium

The Mars Observation Campaign 2018-2019 will unfold from February 12th, 2018 when Mars will reach 6" of apparent diameter until February 6th, 2019 when Mars will be back to that value. Mars opposition proper will be reached on July 27th, 2018 by 05:31 UT with 24.2" of apparent diameter and the -2.8th magnitude. Mars then will reach its largest at 24.3" at that same magnitude and remain such between July 28th to August 4th. The closest approach to Earth is on Jul. 31 with a distance 35,994,000 miles. Then Mars is reaching its perihelion on September 16th, 2018. Mars opposition is a good opportunity for non-afficionados to get into the discovery of the Red Planet, as they can take advantage of Mars largest apparent diameter. for more about a Martian opposition in terms of observation, check our Mars Oppositions

That apparition of Mars is interesting in terms of apparent diameter as its interest is unluckily not, in terms of altitude above the horizon for the northern hemisphere. Mars, about the opposition will attain a mere 17° 30' of altitude, South. The show will be much more of interest at the Tropics (67°) or the southern hemisphere (78°, North). Mars will be lying about between Capricornus, the Goat and Sagittarius, the Archer. As far as that Mars Observation Campaign 2018-19 is concerned in terms of seasons at Mars, northern summer solstice will have occurred on Nov. 20, 2017, the Spring equinox on May 23, 2018, northern winter solstice on Oct. 17, 2018, and the Fall equinox on Mar. 24, 2019. Which means that, about the time of the opposition, it will be the southern polar cap of Mars which will be turning into view. . check Mars data in 2018-2019