Mars will approach the Earth at the shortest distance since 2022: a bright red speck will be visible in the sky

Eyewitnesses say that Mars has become brighter and redder over the past few months. And this is true, because on January 12, 2025, the Red Planet will come closest to Earth since 2022, and shortly after that it will enter its annual opposition.

Every 789 days, Mars, the Earth, and the Sun align, and astronomers call this an opposition. The oppositions of the planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune occur almost annually, as the Earth's faster orbit allows it to pass between each of these planets and the Sun almost once a year, but the Red Planet is a little different, Space.com notes.

According to astronomers, Mars and Earth are relatively close to each other. The orbit of our planet around the Sun, which is approximately 365 days, is much shorter than the orbit of the Red Planet (687 Earth days).

So the Earth passes between Mars and the Sun every 789 days - just over two Earth years - at which point Mars and our planet are at their closest distance.

Scientists report that during their confrontation, the Red Planet receives the full glare of the Sun when viewed from Earth. This makes its surface clearer for observation.

Although the official date of the Mars confrontation is January 12, it is not the only night when you can see this planet in full glory. Astronomers emphasize that the Red Planet will become brighter three days earlier when it is closer to Earth. There will also be several close conjunctions near its opposition date, which will likely create the brightest views of Mars, experts say.

Specifically, on January 16, 2025, Mars will reach opposition while in the constellation Gemini. At this time, the Red Planet will appear as a bright red point of light that will dominate the night sky. On February 9, Max will be conjunct the growing Moon.

According to the Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers, during the perihelion, Mars' disk can be up to 24 angular seconds across, and in 2025 it will be much smaller - 14.6 angular seconds.

Interestingly, perihelical oppositions occur only once every 15-17 years.

Scientists emphasize that despite the fact that the opposition will take place in early 2025, the Red Planet will be visible for most of the year. The next opposition of Mars will take place on February 19, 2027.

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