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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 Position and Visibility Tonight

Mars

Where is Mars right now?

Mars is located in the constellation Pisces, approximately 2.25 AU from Earth. Although it is currently above the horizon at an altitude of 4 degrees, Mars is not visible because it is daytime.

Mars Visibility on April 28

Mars rises at sunrise

Mars Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
Mars transit09:3757°
Moon Rise, 79.2% illuminated 14:2017°
Mars set15:51
Astrosession begin19:30-39°
Moon Set02:36-9°
Astrosession end02:39-8°
Mars rise03:21
Civil sunrise03:485°
Sunrise04:1711°

Track Mars Position Throughout the Night

← Tue, 28 April 2026 →

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

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

Utopia Planitia: A large plain within the largest recognized impact basin on Mars, it is notable for its smooth surface and the location of the Viking 2 landing site.

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

Hellas Planitia: An enormous impact basin over 2,300 km in diameter and 7 km deep, making it one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system.

Syrtis Major Planum: A dark region easily visible from Earth, Syrtis Major is an ancient volcanic plateau rich in iron and magnesium silicates.

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

Upcoming Events

TimeDescriptionConstellation
Mon, 11 January 2027Retrograde motion of Mars beginsLeo
Sat, 20 February 2027Mars is in OppositionLeo
Fri, 2 April 2027Retrograde motion of Mars endsLeo

Current position of Mars in Solar System

Earth Mars
DateTue, 28 April 2026
Distance from Earth to Mars2.2507 AU (336,699,928km)
Elongation24°
Angular diameter4.2"
Magnitude1.2
This interactive projection shows the current positions of Mars, Earth, and the Sun in the Solar System. By sliding the image left or right, you can change the day of the year and see how Mars and Earth move along their orbits around the Sun.

Finder Chart for Mars

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameMars
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
Mars coordinates0.88796, 4.72039
Center coordinates0.88796, 4.72039

Mars Passage Through Night

Double-click to unlock the map.

Current position of Mars

Time15:31
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
Mars elevation4°
Mars Azimuth87°
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


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.
Time
DateWed, 29 April 2026
Twighlight start19:31
Twighlight end02:36
Twighlight duration7h 5m
Rise03:22
Set15:51
Elevation at transit58°
Transit time09:36
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 00h 56m 02s", Dec: 05° 01' 00s
Magnitude1
ConstellationPisces
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.
You can also view detailed visibility information in a dedicated table, including exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of Mars

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension0.88796°
Declination4.72039°
Magnitude1.2
ConstellationPisces
Elevation3.9°
Azimuth87.1°

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.