Opportunity to rarely see Mars from Earth

The 'million dollar' Curiosity of the US Aerospace Agency (NASA) is expected to make its first trip to Mars this week.

However, you won't have to wait for photos sent by Curiosity or over millions of miles to personally admire the red planet because of the word on Earth, people can also watch Mars in the night sky. You only have to note the direction of where to look.

Figure simulating the position of Mars during the trio's performance
fantasy in the night sky on January 20. (Photo: Starry Night Software)

The present time is considered a rare opportunity for observers of the night sky because Mars is participating in a virtual universe performance. Mars is appearing in a low position in the western sky just after sunset. Even so, it will be increasingly difficult to see the red planet when we are approaching the end of the year.

'Mars will continue to appear in the sky last night later this year. It will actually lower even more at dusk but the process will be very slow , 'said Joe Rao, a night sky expert at SPACE.com.

Rao added that, until the end of January next year, Mars had fallen so low that it almost disappeared from our view in the night sky. So astronomers can use telescopes to admire it in the western sky.

The expert's advice is: To find Mars, look low into the western sky at the time of evil. The red planet will be in the position of nearly 30 degrees above the horizon.

The moon also 'joined in' with a set of 3 celestial bodies
the performance on August 21. (Photo: Starry Night Software)

'Saturn, Mars and Spica star are forming trio almost all month' , Jane Houston Jones, a scientist at the JPL (JPL) Laboratory in Pasadena, California (USA), said in a NASA video.

Through telescopes, observers can distinguish the differences between these three bodies. According to Ms. Jones, Jupiter seems to be yellow while Spica stars are blue and Mars red.

On August 21, the Moon moved near Mars, Saturn and Spica, making it easier for astronomers to observe the trio of celestial bodies. Mr. Rao said the next time the Moon would shine near Mars on the night of September 19.