Mars takes the fourth place on remoteness that the Sun and the seventh in sizes of planets of the Solar system. Received the name in honor of the ancient Roman god of war. Sometimes Mars is called the red planet: the reddish shade of a surface gives the iron oxide which is contained in soil.
It is required to you
- Amateur telescope or powerful field-glass
Instruction
1. Zemlya and MarsaKogd Zeml's opposition is precisely between the Sun and Mars, i.e. at the minimum distance equal to 55.75 million km, this ratio of planets is called opposition. At the same time Mars is in the direction opposite to the Sun. Such oppositions repeat each 26 months in different points of orbits of Zemlya and Mars. These are the most favorable moments for observations of the red planet in amateur telescopes. Time in 15-17 years there are favorable oppositions: at the same time the distance to Mars is minimum, and the planet reaches the largest angular size and brightness. The last favorable opposition was on January 29, 2010. The following will be on July 27, 2018.
2. Nablyudeniypra conditions existence of the amateur telescope it is necessary to look for Mars in the sky during the periods of oppositions. Details of a surface are available to observations only during these periods when the angular diameter of the planet reaches the maximum value. Many interesting details on the surface of the planet, seasonal evolution of polar caps of Mars and signs of the Martian dust storms are available to the large amateur telescope. In the small telescope it is possible to see "dark stains" on the surface of the planet. It is possible to make out also polar caps, but only during the favorable oppositions. A lot of things depend also on experience of observations, and on atmospheric conditions. So, the more nablyudatelsky experience, the less can be the telescope for "catching" of Mars and details of its surface. The lack of experience is not always compensated by expensive and powerful telescope.
3. Where an iskatvecher and in the morning Mars is visible in red-orange light, and in the middle of the night in yellow. In 2011 Mars can be observed in the sky in the summer and up to the end of November. Till August it is possible to see the planet in the constellation of Twins that in the northern hemisphere of the sky. Since September Mars is visible in the constellation of Cancer. It is between constellations of Leo and Twins.