MARS in Our Naked Eye - Night Sky Events July-2018

Earth-Mars Closest Approach

     This year will be the best to turn our telescope towards Mars. According to National Aeronautics Space Administration, from July 27 to July 30 of 2018, Mars will appear brightest object in the night sky. It is estimated that the closest approach will be in 31-July-2018. [1]

Mars in our Naked Eye:

Mars to the naked eye [2]

     Simply we can go outside and make a look into the sky. The Mars will look brighter like a star in reddish-yellow colour. This can be seen from middle of May-2018 to End July-2018.

Mars Close Approach to Earth:

     Mars will be at somewhat around 57.6 million kilometers away from Earth. Mars will reach it highest point around midnight approximately at 35 degrees above the southern horizon.

     By middle of the August, Mars will become fainter object as it will move farther away from each other in their orbits around Sun. The next estimated close approach is October 2020.[2]

Perfect for Mission Launches:

     This Mars close approach will be best for Mission launches to Mars, so that it can travel and reach earlier as possible. In this 2018- launch window NASA's InSight Mars Lander launched on 05-May-2018 from Vandenberg Air Force Station. [3]

References:

[1] The night sky in May 2018 ( 18-May-2018) Jet Propulsion Laboratory | California Institute of Technology. (NASA). Retrieved from The Night Sky in May 2018 on 03-07-2018.

[2] Mars in our night sky ( July-2018) Mars Exploration Program. National Aeronautics Space Administration. Retrieved from https://mars.nasa.gov/allaboutmars/nightsky/mars-close-approach/ on 03-07-2018.

[3] Mission Timeline ( 5-May-208) Mars InSight Mission. NASA Website. Retrieved from https://mars.nasa.gov/insight/mission/timeline/launch/ on 03-07-2018.