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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 reach transit at 13:02. By the time twilight starts at 18:16 it will be at an elevation of 3° degrees and will set at 18:31, before twilight ends.
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 September 16

Mars Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Moon Rise, 40% illuminated23:17-53°
Mars transit13:0243°
Moon Set14:4737°
Sunset17:1315°
Civil sunset17:4010°
Mars set18:31
Astrosession begin18:42-2°
Astrosession end03:22-48°
Mars rise07:32

Track Mars Position Throughout the Night

← Tue, 16 September 2025 →

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 Virgo, at right ascension 13h 36m 01s" and declination -9° 54' 53s, approximately 2.32 AU (347,067,060 km) from Earth. At the current time, it is above the horizon at an altitude of 3 degrees toward the east-southeast from your location, with an apparent magnitude of 1.6.

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

Current position of Mars in Solar System

Earth Mars
DateTue, 16 September 2025
Distance from Earth to Mars2.315 AU (346,319,071km)
Elongation32°
Angular diameter4"
Magnitude1.6
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 coordinates13.60035, -9.91486
Center coordinates13.60035, -9.91486

Mars Passage Through Night

Double-click to unlock the map.

Current position of Mars

Time18:16
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
Mars elevation3°
Mars Azimuth105°
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
DateWed, 17 September 2025
Twighlight start18:40
Twighlight end03:21
Twighlight duration9h 40m
Rise07:33
Set18:29
Elevation at transit43°
Transit time13:01
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 13h 38m 11s", Dec: -10° 07' 55s
Magnitude2
ConstellationVirgo
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 Ascension13.60035°
Declination-9.91486°
Magnitude1.6
ConstellationVirgo
Elevation3°
Azimuth104.9°

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.