On January 16th, Mars will reach a rare opposition, making it 900 times brighter than the faintest visible star. It will appear larger and brighter, providing perfect opportunities for observation with the naked eye or a telescope
On January 16th, Mars will shine 900 times brighter than the faintest star visible to the naked eye.
According to the Department of Astrophysics at Baku State University (BSU), this event marks Mars reaching its opposition.
At opposition, Mars and the Sun are positioned directly opposite each other in relation to Earth, bringing the planet to one of its closest and fully illuminated positions. This alignment allows Mars to be visible all night long, making it an excellent opportunity for skywatchers and astronomers alike to observe the planet. During this time, Mars appears both brighter and larger, offering ideal conditions for telescope and naked-eye viewing.
Every time Mars nears Earth, an opposition occurs, with the timing shifting slightly due to the planet’s elliptical orbit. This time, when Mars is at its closest to Earth, its angular size will be 14.6 arc seconds, and its brightness will peak at -1.4 magnitude, making it roughly 900 times brighter than the faintest visible star.
In Baku, Mars will be visible throughout the night, from around 6:30 PM to 7:41 AM. At 1:14 AM, it will cross the celestial meridian, reaching a height of 74° above the horizon.
The next significant opposition of Mars will occur on September 15, 2035, when the planet will be approximately 56 million kilometers from Earth.
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest,...
A water leak at the Louvre last month damaged up to 400 books in its Egyptian antiquities library, deepening concerns over the museum’s ageing infra...
Russia’s Ministry of Defence released a statement outlining new battlefield developments, claiming its forces have advanced in both the Kharkiv and ...
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points afte...
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he will meet U.S. President Donald Trump later this month, saying a second phase of the ...
A former executive of a Mars Inc. subsidiary has pleaded guilty to fraud and tax charges after stealing $28 million from the company, federal prosecutors said Thursday.
A piece of rock believed to be the largest piece of Mars on Earth has sold for $5.3 million at a geological and archaeological auction in New York on Wednesday.
Sotheby’s in New York is set to auction the largest known piece of Mars ever found on Earth—a 54-pound (24.67 kg) meteorite named NWA 16788.
Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, urging citizens to continue their daily activities.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their shared border late on Friday, a reminder of how sensitive the frontier remains despite ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Indonesia's military stepped up its relief efforts in three provinces on Sumatra island that have been devastated by deadly floods and landslides, and the country's vice president apologised for shortcomings in the response to last week's disaster.
Authorities in Senegal have launched urgent measures to prevent a potential oil spill after water entered the engine room of the Panamanian-flagged oil tanker Mersin off the coast of Dakar, the port authority said on Sunday.
The death toll from devastating floods across Southeast Asia climbed to at least 183 people on Friday (28 November). Authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka struggle to rescue stranded residents, restore power and communications, and deliver aid to cut-off communities.
At least 47 people have died and another 21 are reported missing following ten days of heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides across Sri Lanka, local media reported on Thursday (27 November).
Rescuers in Thailand readied drones on Thursday to airdrop food parcels, as receding floodwaters in the south and neighbouring Malaysia brightened hopes for the evacuation of those stranded for days, while cyclone havoc in Indonesia killed at least 28.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment