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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Mars Observation Details

Mars

Mars Daily Motion


Mars will become visible in May, 30. After being too close to the Sun to observe, it will reappear in the night sky. Starting from May, 30, Mars can be seen again, providing a good opportunity for observation.

Mars Visibility Timetable on January 19

Mars Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 0.1% illuminated05:332°
Mars transit10:0931°
Mars set14:58
Moon Set15:16-3°
Astrosession begin16:48-21°
Astrosession end03:48-17°
Mars rise05:19
Sunrise05:200°

Track Mars Position Throughout the Night

← Mon, 19 January 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe Mars changing position in the night sky.

Where is Mars right now?

Mars is located in the constellation Sagittarius, at right ascension 19h 57m 06s" and declination -21° 43' 34s, approximately 2.39 AU (357,538,911 km) from Earth. At the current time, it is below the horizon and not visible from your location.

Mars's Moon Positions

In this section, we explore the dynamic positions of Mars' two moons, Phobos and Deimos, as they orbit the Red Planet during the night. Phobos, the larger and closer of the two, whizzes around Mars in just over seven hours, often casting its shadow on the Martian surface. Deimos, being smaller and farther away, takes approximately 30 hours to complete an orbit, resulting in more gradual changes in its position.

Mars Map

Mars Features

Valles Marineris: A vast canyon system stretching over 4,000 km long and up to 7 km deep, it is one of the largest canyons in the solar system.

Amazonis Planitia: A vast plain in the northern hemisphere, known for its smooth surface and relatively young geological features.

Tharsis Montes: A volcanic plateau hosting three large shield volcanoes—Arsia Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Ascraeus Mons—each towering over 14 km high.

Olympus Mons: The tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons stands about 22 km high and spans 600 km in diameter.

 
Discover even more Mars features with our interactive, high-resolution Mars map

Upcoming Events

TimeDescriptionConstellation
Mon, 11 January 2027Retrograde motion of Mars beginsLeo

Current position of Mars in Solar System

Earth Mars
DateMon, 19 January 2026
Distance from Earth to Mars2.3939 AU (358,122,343km)
Elongation3°
Angular diameter3.9"
Magnitude1.1
This section provides an interactive projection of the solar system, illustrating the relative positions of Mars, Earth, and the Sun throughout the year. By sliding the image left or right, you can change the day of the year, observing how the positions of Mars and Earth shift in their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for Mars

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameMars
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
Mars coordinates19.95184, -21.72617
Center coordinates19.95184, -21.72617

Mars Passage Through Night

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Current position of Mars

Time03:33
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
Mars elevation-20°
Mars Azimuth-103°
Here you can see the current position of the Mars on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the Mars's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of Mars

Time
DateTue, 20 January 2026
Twighlight start16:45
Twighlight end03:41
Twighlight duration11h 57m
Rise05:16
Set14:54
Elevation at transit31°
Transit time10:05
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 19h 58m 32s", Dec: -21° 39' 42s
Magnitude1
ConstellationSagittarius
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a Mars, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the Mars is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of Mars

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension19.95184°
Declination-21.72617°
Magnitude1.1
ConstellationSagittarius
Elevation-19.7°
Azimuth-102.8°

Basic Properties

Mass, kg6.4171E+23
Mean density, g/cm³3.933(5+-4)

Orbit

Orbital period, days686.98 d

Rotation

Sidereal rotation period, days24.622962 hr
Mean solar day, hours88775.24415 s

Surface & Atmosphere

Surface gravity, m/s²3.71
Escape velocity, km/s5.027
Surface pressure, bar0.0056
Mean temperature, K210

Brightness

Visual magnitude V(1,0)-1.52

Data Acknowledgment

Our solar system data—including planetary physical and orbital parameters—comes from the Solar System OpenData API , maintained by Le Système Solaire. We thank Christophe and the contributors for making this open data available.