Finding Mars Shining Bright in the Western Sky
By: James Maynard
Tags: Solar System, Space, Astronomy, Science, Mars

Finding Mars is easy this week, as it shines brightly in the eastern sky, offering observers a chance to see a stunning view of Mars.

While the space agencies of the world send spacecraft to Mars, viewers on Earth have a golden (red?) opportunity to view that world in the eastern sky this week. Image credit: PIR04D/Pixabay

Mars is currently the target of multiple spacecraft, journeying to the planet in search of water, and perhaps signs of life. But, while space agencies around the globe send robotic explorers to Mars, the Red Planet also offers skygazers a chance to view the world as it shines brightly in the eastern sky each evening.

On October 6th, Mars will move closer to Earth than it will be at any time until the year 2035. At its closest, the Red Planet will be three times brighter than the brightest star in the sky, brighter than Jupiter, making finding Mars a breeze.

How to find Mars at its closest approach until 2035 — October 6, 2020. Created by The Cosmic Companion in The Sky Live.

As Mars and the Earth orbit the Sun, the distance between the two worlds constantly changes. The close approach of Mars on October 6 will be the closest the two worlds will come to each other for 15 years.

Named in honor of the Roman god of war, Mars was known to ancient civilizations. Finding Mars in the night sky is usually simple if one knows where to look.

Today, we know the surface of Mars is mostly composed of basalt, similar to the ocean floors of Earth. The distinctive red color of that world comes from iron oxide (rust), which makes up approximately 1/4 of the Martian crust.

Occasionally, asteroid impacts can kick up rocks from the surface of Mars, which can escape to space under certain conditions. Some of these land on Earth.

“The oldest Mars meteorite is ALH84001, which is 4.1 billion years old. It is a rock type known as an orthopyroxenite. It also has minerals that formed by reactions between the original material and water that formed 3.9 billion years ago. The oldest known minerals from Mars are 4.4 billion-year-old zircons from a 2.1 billion-year-old meteorite,” NASA describes.

Like Earth, Mars has dunes, and the planet consists of a core, surrounded by a mantle, covered by crust. Recent studies also suggest that world may have developed rings which formed and dissipated over time.

Recent discoveries on Mars include underground Martian lakes, ice, and the possibility that life might still exist beneath the ruddy surface of that world.

An interview with Dr. Steven D’Hondt, talking about how life might live just under the surface of Mars. Video credit: The Cosmic Companion.

“We’ve gotta become the Martians. I’m a Martian — I tell you to become Martians. And we’ve gotta go to Mars and civilize Mars and build a whole civilization on Mars and then move out, 300 years from now into the universe. And when we do that, we have a chance of living forever.” — Ray Bradbury

Mars is easily visible to the naked eye, but even a small telescope will reveal detail, including the polar ice caps of that world. The north pole of Mars is significantly larger than its south pole, just the opposite of what we see on Earth.

Unlike our home world, Mars does not possess plate tectonics, nor does it have an active magnetic field. The Martian atmosphere is exceedingly thin, and the Red Planet is accompanied by a pair of moons.

While observing Mars, look to the east, and remember to also take a look at Jupiter and Saturn, easily visible in the southwestern sky.