- - text and links as of last publication - -

Mars Opposition 2011-2012

Mars is reaching a apparent diameter of 13,9" on March 3rd, 2012, which means the Red Planet is lying at a opposition. The opposition, for a superior planet -which is a planet situated beyond the Earth relative to the Sun- occurs when the relative motion of both the Earth and the planet brings them in line together with the Sun. That specific moment makes that the planet is at its best observable, with its largest apparent diameter, its brightest magnitude as it rises by sunset and sets by sunrise. for more about the remarkable positions of planets, check our tutorial Planets Apparent Motion. As far as most of superior planets are concerned, the opposition occurs yearly as due to the greatest proximity of Mars and that its relative motion combined with that of the Earth, the opposition of Mars only occurs about each 26 months. Afficionados then are speaking of a 'Mars Observation Campaign', or 'Martian Observation Campaign.' For that opposition, it is spanning over both 2011 and 2012, with the opposition largest reached on March 3rd, 2012 by 18:54 UT. Mars, for that opposition 2011-2012 is to reach a 13.9" of apparent diameter and the -1.2th magnitude between March 2nd and March 10th, which represents a mean opposition. Mars opposition are too 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. Mars afficionados, as far as they are concerned, are encompassing a Mars Observation Campagin like the period including the opposition self and running from when Mars is reaching, and leaving, 6" of apparent diameter. Below they deem that the planet is not, or few worth the observation

Mars at the opposition in constellation Leo and its configuration at the time of the opposition

Mars, by the time of the opposition, will lie in constellation Leo, providing for a fine background sky to the observation. That sky area will be high, by 49°, in the northen hemisphere by 10:30 p.m. local time and reaching a altitude of 60° by midnight. Mars is to be higher still by the tropics, East as it will then reach the zenith with the night. By 10:30 local time, in the southern hemisphere, the show is clearly lower as Mars in the night however is to reach, on the northern horizon, a altitude of 49°

Mars Apparent Diameter and Magnitude For The 2011-2012 Opposition

Date	11/3	12/17	1/13	2/3	2/14	3/2-3/10	3/26	4/7	4/30	5/29	7/20
Apparent Diameter (in ")	6	8	10	12	13	13.9	13	12	10	8	6
Magnitude	1.1	0.5	- 0.1	- 0.6	- 0.9	- 1.2 (since 2/27)	- 0.9	- 0.6	- 0.1	0.5	1.0
Views
Date	11/3	12/17	1/13	2/3	2/14	3/2-3/10	3/26	4/7	4/30	5/29	7/20
data for 00:00 UT, geocentric. data with Cartes du Ciel, Patrick Chevalley; views of the apparent diameter of Mars with Celestia; views' dates matching the dates of the table above

. all Mars data in 2011 and 2012