Mars is closer in Toronto’s sky today than it will be for 15 years
See Mars easily in the Toronto night sky during October
photo credit NASA JBL-Caltech
TORONTO, ON., Oct. 6, 2020 — Look up, look waaaaay up, and you will see what appears to be a bright reddish orange star to the south east at nightfall – shining highest in the sky near midnight – and in the west as at the break of dawn. And today in Canada, the Red Planet’s closest approach comes on October 6, 2020, at at 10 a.m. EDT. According to NASA this is the point in Mars’ orbit when it comes closest to Earth, this time at about 38.6 million miles (62.07 million kilometers) from our planet.
This is referred to as a “Close Approach” when Mars and Earth come nearest to each other in their orbits around the sun., and it happens only every 26 months. Although Mars’ next Close Approach will be December 8, 2022 it will not be closer than it is, today.
This month’s Close Approach by Mars is not its closest in history, however. According to NASA, “back in 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years! It won’t be that close again until the year 2287.”
NASA says this time of optimal Mars viewing “coincides with opposition, when Mars is directly on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. This lineup happens about every two years. During this opposition, Mars and Earth are closest to each other in their orbits. That means Mars is at its brightest, so go out and take a look!”
Simply go outside and look up and, depending on your local weather and lighting conditions, you should be able to see Mars.
Mars Close Approach is Oct. 6, 2020
That is the point in Mars’ orbit when it comes closest to Earth, this time at about 38.6 million miles (62.07 million kilometers) from our planet. Mars will be visible for much of the night in the southern sky and is at its highest point at about midnight.
This time of excellent Mars viewing coincides with opposition, when Mars is directly on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. This lineup happens about every two years. During this opposition, Mars and Earth are closest to each other in their orbits. That means Mars is at its brightest, so go out and take a look!
Meanwhile, as you may recall, NASA’s Mars 2020 mission, with its Perseverance rover, is currently en route to the Red Planet. It is expected to touch down on Mars on Feb. 18, 2021. Several other nations also have spacecraft headed to Mars including the United Arab Emirates and China.
Now, although Mars is closer today, it will be brightest on October 13 when Earth moves between the Red Planet and the sun at its, according to EarthSky. And when we say close, we speak in relative terms considering close means 54.6 million kilometres.
Mars will be at its brightest in 2020 throughout the month of October and it will be shining brighter than Jupiter, which of course, is the largest planet in our solar system.
Don’t despair if it is cloudy over Toronto tonight because Mars is brightest for most all of October and it won’t be this bright again until September 2035.
by Terry Lankstead
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