Mars to be biggest and brightest on Midnight, 29'th Jan

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Skygazers can observe planet Mars at its biggest and brightest best on

the midnight of January 29.

 

The 'Red Planet' will come this close to Earth after two years. " After

two years, Mars will appear the brightest, " Amitabh Pandey, founder

president, Science Popularisation Association of Communicators and

Educators (SPACE), said. " On January 27, Mars will be closest to Earth

and on the midnight of January 29, it will be in line with the Sun and

the Earth. "

 

Mars comes close to Earth every two years, " every 26 months to be

precise " , according to experts.

 

" Mars takes about 687 Earth days to complete one revolution around the

Sun, whereas Earth takes around 365 days. So there is a difference of

speeds at which both planets move around the Sun and that accounts for

Mars being further away or closer to the Earth, " SPACE officials said.

 

" So Mars comes close to Earth once in 26 months ... the position is

called opposition, " Pandey said. A planet is said to be " in opposition "

when the Sun, the Earth and the planet are in one line.

 

Stating the planet will look like a 'dazzling red jewel in the sky',

Pandey added Mars will become as bright as Venus on January 29. " Mars

gets its red colour from rust, scientifically called iron oxide which

makes up about 10 per cent of Martian soil. "

 

After this year's 'opposition', Mars will slowly dim in the sky as the

Earth speeds ahead in its inner orbit, and the distance between the two

planets increases. " A year from now, Mars will appear no brighter than

an inconspicuous star. "

 

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