Mars Observation Details
Mars Daily Motion
Mars will be visible until June, 13, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.
Mars Visibility Timetable on December 21
Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Astrosession begin | 18:48 | -8° |
| Mars rise | 19:37 | |
| Moon Rise, 57% illuminated | 23:50 | 47° |
| Mars transit | 02:57 | 73° |
| Astrosession end | 06:13 | 45° |
| Civil sunrise | 07:20 | 32° |
| Sunrise | 07:52 | 26° |
| Mars set | 10:17 | |
| Moon Set | 12:24 | -18° |
Track Mars Position Throughout the Night
← Sat, 21 December 2024 →
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
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Shift the map to change the time and observe Mars changing position in the night sky.
Upcoming Events
| Time | Description | Constellation |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, 13 January 2025, 22:43 | Close approach of Mars and the Moon. Distance - 0.2°, position - 58° above the horizon at West-Southwest | Gemini |
| Thu, 16 January 2025 | Mars is in Opposition | Gemini |
| Mon, 24 February 2025 | Retrograde motion of Mars ends | Gemini |
| Sat, 8 March 2025, 19:27 | Close approach of Mars and the Moon. Distance - 1.7°, position - 68° above the horizon at Southwest | Gemini |
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.
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.
Tempe Terra: A heavily cratered highland region in the northern hemisphere, featuring large valleys and ancient tectonic structures.
Syrtis Major Planum: A dark region easily visible from Earth, Syrtis Major is an ancient volcanic plateau rich in iron and magnesium silicates.
Noctis Labyrinthus: A network of deep, steep-walled valleys extending from the western end of Valles Marineris, resembling a labyrinth.
Meridiani Planum: A plain near the Martian equator where the Opportunity rover discovered evidence of past water activity.
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.
Tempe Terra: A heavily cratered highland region in the northern hemisphere, featuring large valleys and ancient tectonic structures.
Syrtis Major Planum: A dark region easily visible from Earth, Syrtis Major is an ancient volcanic plateau rich in iron and magnesium silicates.
Noctis Labyrinthus: A network of deep, steep-walled valleys extending from the western end of Valles Marineris, resembling a labyrinth.
Meridiani Planum: A plain near the Martian equator where the Opportunity rover discovered evidence of past water activity.
Discover even more Mars features with our interactive, high-resolution Mars map
Current position of Mars in Solar System
| Date | Sat, 21 December 2024 |
| Distance from Earth to Mars | 0.69471 AU (103,927,137km) |
| Elongation | 145° |
| Angular diameter | 13.5" |
| Magnitude | -1 |
Finder Chart for Mars
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| Object name | Mars |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| Mars coordinates | 8.53155, 22.46483 |
| Center coordinates | 8.53155, 22.46483 |
Mars Passage Through Night
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Current position of Mars
| Time | 06:49 |
| Latitude | 39.9625 |
| Longitude | -83.0061 |
| Mars elevation | 39° |
| Mars Azimuth | 92° |
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
| Date | Sun, 22 December 2024 |
| Twighlight start | 18:44 |
| Twighlight end | 06:07 |
| Twighlight duration | 11h 23m |
| Rise | 19:37 |
| Set | 10:18 |
| Elevation at transit | 73° |
| Transit time | 02:58 |
| Equatorial coordinate | RA: 08h 31m 29s", Dec: 22° 30' 42s |
| Magnitude | -1 |
| Constellation | Cancer |
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.
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.