Mars Observation Details
Mars Daily Motion
Mars will reach transit at 16:13. By the time twilight starts at 21:30 it will be at an elevation of 7° degrees and will set at 22:06, before twilight ends.Mars will be visible until August, 29, 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 August 17
Mars Rise and Set Timetable
| Time | Elevation | |
| Mars transit | 16:13 | 48° |
| Sunset | 20:25 | 19° |
| Civil sunset | 20:55 | 13° |
| Mars set | 22:06 | |
| Astrosession begin | 22:07 | -0° |
| Moon Rise, 39.1% illuminated | 00:27 | -27° |
| Astrosession end | 05:05 | -50° |
| Mars rise | 10:19 | |
| Moon Set | 16:32 | 47° |
Track Mars Position Throughout the Night
← Sun, 17 August 2025 →
| 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
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.
Tharsis Montes: A volcanic plateau hosting three large shield volcanoes—Arsia Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Ascraeus Mons—each towering over 14 km high.
Tempe Terra: A heavily cratered highland region in the northern hemisphere, featuring large valleys and ancient tectonic structures.
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.
Olympus Mons: The tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons stands about 22 km high and spans 600 km in diameter.
Arsia Mons: The southernmost of the Tharsis Montes volcanoes, Arsia Mons is over 19 km high with a caldera about 110 km in diameter.
Ascraeus Mons: The northernmost and tallest of the Tharsis Montes volcanoes, reaching about 18 km high.
Tharsis Montes: A volcanic plateau hosting three large shield volcanoes—Arsia Mons, Pavonis Mons, and Ascraeus Mons—each towering over 14 km high.
Tempe Terra: A heavily cratered highland region in the northern hemisphere, featuring large valleys and ancient tectonic structures.
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.
Olympus Mons: The tallest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons stands about 22 km high and spans 600 km in diameter.
Arsia Mons: The southernmost of the Tharsis Montes volcanoes, Arsia Mons is over 19 km high with a caldera about 110 km in diameter.
Ascraeus Mons: The northernmost and tallest of the Tharsis Montes volcanoes, reaching about 18 km high.
Discover even more Mars features with our interactive, high-resolution Mars map
Upcoming Events
| Time | Description | Constellation |
|---|
Current position of Mars in Solar System
| Date | Sun, 17 August 2025 |
| Distance from Earth to Mars | 2.1989 AU (328,950,758km) |
| Elongation | 42° |
| Angular diameter | 4.3" |
| Magnitude | 1.5 |
Finder Chart for Mars
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| Object name | Mars |
| Field of view | |
| Limiting magnitude | |
| Mars coordinates | 12.37889, -1.99136 |
| Center coordinates | 12.37889, -1.99136 |
Mars Passage Through Night
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Current position of Mars
| Time | 09:07 |
| Latitude | 39.9625 |
| Longitude | -83.0061 |
| Mars elevation | -14° |
| Mars Azimuth | -81° |
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, 17 August 2025 |
| Twighlight start | 22:03 |
| Twighlight end | 04:59 |
| Twighlight duration | 7h 56m |
| Rise | 10:18 |
| Set | 22:01 |
| Elevation at transit | 48° |
| Transit time | 16:09 |
| Equatorial coordinates | RA: 12h 23m 46s", Dec: -2° 06' 35s |
| Magnitude | 2 |
| Constellation | Virgo |
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.