On the night of August 27, turn off your TV. Step outside. And watch the real stars. Mars, the red planet, will be closest to Earth in about 60,000 years! Any kid will tell you how to spot the planet: 'Climb that water tank...' But beyond those iron rungs, it is easy to get lost in space. So, here's a guide for your mission.
Pre-flight briefing
When it comes to space 'close' is a relative term. In a few hours, when you look across at Mars, you will be looking across 55.76 million kilometres! Yes, that is close. In astronomical terms it is your backyard. And the best ever view of the planet you can have in your lifetime.
In India, Mars will be the closest to Earth at 3:21 pm. But it will be daylight. Wait a few hours till your place under the Sun moves away from it. When night falls, Mars should shine the brightest in the eastern sky. A night later on August 28, at 10:56 pm, the Sun, Earth and Mars will be in a straight line, or in 'opposition' as the astronomers would have it. This affords a slightly better view but not for the naked eye or the amateur's telescope.
The spectacle returns only in year 2287. Then Mars will be 70,000 km closer than what it will be now.
Watching with the naked eye
- Though Mars's tryst with Earth occurs at 3.21 pm, the planet rises after 7 pm. Don't rush yet. Astronomers suggest 8.30 pm should be the easiest. Because August 27 brings a new moon there should be no viewing trouble at all minus the possibility of clouds.
- Walk on to the terrace of your building or an open ground and face east. In August, Mars should be found there. In the south-south east, if you are finicky.
- The famous red planet is orange! Ask me why? Well, it gives off a rusty orange hue due to the rust coloured dust that covers much of it. Mars is currently surrounded by faint constellations so there is little chance you will miss it.
- Mars will be at its greatest 'apparent' diameter and a 'visual magnitude', or brightness, of -2.9, the maximum possible for the planet. On July 1, Mars was at a brightness of -1.5 and it grows brighter at the rate of one tenth of a magnitude every day. Some describe the planet's glow to that of a plane's landing light.
- If you are familiar with constellations, then remember Mars will be close to the Capricornus-Aquarius border.
- Apart from viewing a reddish ball, there is little else that you can decipher with the naked eye. But remember that what you are seeing is probably the best view of Mars you will ever get.
- Mars will be visible till early morning. But over the night it will move in the 'retrograde', that is from the east to the west.
- On August 28, when Mars will be in opposition at 10:56 pm, it will be fully lit and not gibbous. The average opposition occurs about every two years, when Earth laps Mars on its orbit around the Sun. In 1995, the opposition brought Mars 101.1 million kilometres from the Earth, twice as far as this most recent approach.
Watching with instruments
- You can use a powerful set of binoculars or telescope to see the planet. A good telescope will afford you the luxury of seeing greater detail on the planet, like the polar ice caps.
- Ensure that the telescope is set up on a steady surface. Though Mars rises around 7 pm, you cannot see much detail then even if you use a telescope. It is best to wait for another 2 hours.
- Once you spot the planet with the naked eye, point your telescope at it and look for the polar ice caps. You can see a hint of it through the telescope in the form of a white cloudy patch. Seen through a modest aperture telescope, Mars will, at best, be visible as a marble sized disk on which some dark markings can be made out.
- Remember that it takes time for the eye to get accustomed to details. So spend about 10 minutes watching the planet through the telescope before you attempt discerning any surface details.
- Once your eyes are tuned in and if you are using a high-quality 4- or 6-inch telescope you should be able to make out one or both of the planet's tiny, white polar caps or at least the polar cloud hoods, dark surface markings, occasional white clouds and, possibly, signs of a moving dust storm!
If you don't own a good telescope
Special viewings of the planet have been arranged throughout India.
Mumbai: The Nehru Planetarium at Worli is organising viewings through specially set up telescopes. The planetarium has arranged for four telescopes on its premises and people can drop by anytime after 8.30 pm to take a peep. The viewings are for free and will continue till September 2.
Apart from the planetarium, local amateur astronomers clubs like the Akash Mitra in Kalyan and Khagol Mandal, which has various branches throughout the city, have also arranged for viewings.
Bangalore: The Indian Institute of Astrophysics has organised a special lecture on Mars on August 27 at 8 pm at the IIAP auditorium. The lecture will be followed by viewings through 6-inch telescopes.
Chennai: Telescopes have been arranged at the Birla Planetarium. They will be open for public viewing 8 pm onwards.
Delhi: The Nehru Planetarium at Teen Murti complex has special screenings on the red planet. These are 45-minute documentaries being shown at 5, 6 and 7 pm.
After 8 pm, five telescopes set up on the premises will be made available to the public. The programme is called 'Public sky watch'. The Amateur Astronomers Association of Delhi has organised the viewings.
Other cities: Planetariums in almost all cities have organised special viewings for August 27 and 28. Apart from them, a number of amateur astronomers clubs are active. Details of them can be had from the Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers.
