All About Mars: Facts, Images and How to See It
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun, known for its reddish color, rocky surface, and two small moons. In late 2026, Mars is becoming easier to observe as it brightens and rises earlier in the night. This guide covers its physical characteristics, appearance, visibility, and upcoming sky events. Use the Sky Tonight app to quickly find Mars from your location.
Contents
- Can You See Mars Tonight?
- How to Find Mars in the Sky
- Mars Facts
- How Big Is Mars?
- Mars Orbital Period and Rotation Period
- How Far Away Is Mars?
- Missions to Mars
- What Is Mars Made of?
- How Many Moons Does Mars Have?
- What Does Mars Look Like?
- When and Where Is Mars Visible in 2026–2027?
- Upcoming Events
- Planet Mars: To Sum Up
Can You See Mars Tonight?
Yes — in November 2026, Mars is visible in the late-night and early-morning sky. Look for a reddish-orange point of light rising late at night and climbing higher before dawn. Throughout November, Mars brightens from about magnitude 0.9 to 0.5, making it easy to spot with the naked eye under clear skies.
The exact viewing time depends on your location. To learn when Mars becomes visible tonight, open the Sky Tonight app, search for the planet, and check its position and rise and set times. For a better view, observe when Mars has climbed well above the horizon.
Mars will continue to brighten and become visible earlier in the night throughout the rest of 2026. The best observing period will be around its next opposition on February 19, 2027, when it will be visible almost all night.
How to Find Mars in the Sky
Mars is one of the easiest planets to recognize with the naked eye — when it’s well placed. It usually looks like a bright reddish-orange “star” that shines with a steady light. Unlike the real stars, Mars slowly changes its position against the background constellations from night to night.
The easiest way to find Mars is to use an astronomy app like Sky Tonight:
- Open the app and tap the search icon.
- Type “Mars.”
- Tap the target icon next to Mars.
- Follow the arrow on the screen until you see Mars’ position in the sky.
If you’re not sure whether the reddish object you see is Mars, point your device at the sky and use the app’s live sky map to identify the object. This is especially helpful because Mars can sometimes be confused with other reddish objects, such as Antares, Aldebaran, or Betelgeuse.
Mars Facts
Mars is a rocky planet with a thin, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere and two small moons. Here are its basic physical and orbital properties.
- Planet type: terrestrial
- Equatorial radius: 3,396 km
- Mass: 6.417 × 10²³ kg
- Aphelion: 249.2 million km (154.9 million miles)
- Perihelion: 206.6 million km (128.4 million miles)
- Distance from Earth: 55–401 million km (34–249 million miles)
- Distance from the Sun: 207–249 million km (128–155 million miles)
- Temperature range: −153 °C to 20 °C (−243 °F to 68 °F)
- Solar day length: 24 h 39 m 35 s
- Sidereal day length: 24 h 37 m 22 s
- Year length: 686.98 Earth days
- Age: about 4.5 billion years
- Named after: Roman god of war
8 interesting facts about Mars
-
Mars has the largest volcano in the Solar System. Olympus Mons rises about 22 km (14 miles) above the surrounding plains, making it roughly 2.5 times as tall as Mount Everest. Its enormous base covers an area comparable to the US state of Arizona.
-
Mars has a canyon system that dwarfs the Grand Canyon. Valles Marineris stretches for nearly 4,000 km (2,500 miles) across the planet. It is nine times longer than the Grand Canyon and reaches depths of several kilometers.
-
Sunsets on Mars can look blue. While the Martian sky often appears reddish or yellowish because of suspended dust, the area around the setting Sun can take on a bluish glow.
-
Dust storms can spread across almost the entire planet. Mars experiences local, regional, and occasionally planet-encircling dust storms. The largest can last for weeks or months and significantly reduce visibility at the surface.
-
A day on Mars is only 39 minutes longer than a day on Earth. One Martian solar day, called a sol, lasts about 24 hours and 39 minutes. A Martian year, however, is almost twice as long as an Earth year.
-
One of Mars’ moons rises in the west and sets in the east. Phobos completes an orbit around Mars in just 7 hours and 39 minutes, faster than the planet rotates. As a result, it appears to travel across the Martian sky in the opposite direction to our Moon.
-
Mars has almost as much surface area as all of Earth’s dry land. Although Mars is only about half Earth’s diameter, its entire surface covers approximately 144 million square kilometers (56 million square miles) — nearly the same as Earth’s land area.
-
Astronomers once believed Mars had artificial canals. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some observers interpreted apparent lines on Mars as waterways built by an intelligent civilization. Better observations later showed that the supposed canal network was an optical illusion.
How Big Is Mars?
Mars is the second smallest planet in the Solar System — only Mercury is smaller.
Mars size
Mars has a diameter of 6,792 km (4,220 miles); the planet’s circumference around the equator is 21,340 km (13,300 miles). Thus, if you’re moving at a speed of about 100 km per hour (62 miles per hour), it will take you about nine days to travel around the planet’s equator.
Mars vs. Earth: a quick comparison
Mars has just over half Earth’s diameter, about one-tenth of its mass, and only 38% of its surface gravity. However, the two planets also share some characteristics, including similar day lengths and distinct seasons.
| Characteristic | Mars | Earth |
|---|---|---|
| Equatorial diameter | 6,792 km (4,220 miles) | 12,756 km (7,926 miles) |
| Mass | 6.42 × 10²³ kg | 5.97 × 10²⁴ kg |
| Surface gravity | 3.71 m/s² | 9.81 m/s² |
| Average temperature | About −65 °C (−85 °F) | About 15 °C (59 °F) |
| Surface atmospheric pressure | About 0.6% of Earth’s | 100% (sea-level reference) |
| Main atmospheric gas | Carbon dioxide (about 95%) | Nitrogen (about 78%) |
| Length of a solar day | 24 h 39 m | 24 h |
| Length of a year | 687 Earth days | About 365.25 days |
The biggest difference is the environment. Earth’s dense, oxygen-rich atmosphere supports life as we know it, while Mars has a thin, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere that provides little protection from radiation or extreme temperature changes.
Mars Orbital Period and Rotation Period
A planet’s orbital period determines the length of its year. Its rotation period measures how long it takes to spin once relative to distant stars, while its solar day measures the interval between successive noons.
How long is a year on Mars?
As Mars is located farther away from the Sun than Earth, it takes longer for the Red Planet to complete one orbit around the Sun. A year on Mars lasts for about 687 Earth days, which equals 1.88 Earth years.
How long is a day on Mars?
Mars takes almost as long as Earth to complete one rotation. For this reason, daily cycles on these two planets are quite similar. One Martian day (called a sol) lasts 24 hours 39 minutes, which is only 39 minutes longer than a day on Earth.
Does Mars have seasons?
Seasons are caused by the tilt of a planet’s axis of rotation. Mars’ axial tilt is very similar to Earth’s: the Red Planet is tilted at 25.2°, while Earth’s axial tilt is about 23.5°. For this reason, Mars has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall, and winter. However, Martian seasons are longer than Earth’s and vary considerably in length because Mars follows a more elliptical orbit. Together, its four seasons span about 687 Earth days.
How Far Away Is Mars?
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and one of Earth’s two closest neighbors (the other one being Venus).
How far is Mars from the Sun?
Due to the high eccentricity of the Red Planet’s orbit, there’s a significant difference between Mars’ closest and farthest points from the Sun, which equal 206.6 million km (128.4 million miles) and 249.2 million km (154.9 million miles), respectively. On average, Mars is positioned 228 million km (142 million miles) away from our star, which equals 1.5 astronomical units.
How far is Mars from Earth?
The distance between Earth and Mars constantly changes because the two planets orbit the Sun at different speeds. At their closest possible approach, they can be about 54.6 million km (33.9 million miles) apart. When they are on opposite sides of the Sun, their separation can reach approximately 400 million km (249 million miles).
Mars generally comes closest to Earth around opposition, when the two planets lie on the same side of the Sun. However, not every opposition brings Mars equally close because its orbit is more elliptical than Earth’s. In August 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, coming within about 55.7 million km (34.6 million miles). You can learn more about Mars oppositions from our infographic.
How long does it take to get to Mars?
A spacecraft typically takes about 7–10 months to reach Mars, although the exact travel time depends on its trajectory, speed, and mission objectives.
The most fuel-efficient launch opportunities occur approximately every 26 months, when Earth and Mars are positioned favorably in their orbits. Spacecraft do not simply travel toward Mars’ current location; they follow a calculated path around the Sun to intercept the planet where it will be when they arrive.
For example, NASA’s Perseverance rover and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter each took about seven months to reach Mars. Some flyby missions have completed the journey faster, but spacecraft that need to enter orbit or land on Mars have different speed and fuel requirements.
Missions to Mars
Mars has been the destination of numerous space missions since 1960. Spacecraft from several countries have orbited, landed on, and explored the planet. The missions below mark important milestones in its exploration.
NASA’s Mariner 9 entered Mars’ orbit in 1971, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. Mariner 9 mapped 85% of the Martian surface and sent more than 7,000 images back to Earth.
The first human-made object to reach the Martian surface was the Soviet Union’s Mars 2, launched the same year as Mariner 9. The Mars 2 lander entered the atmosphere at too steep an angle. Its descent system failed, and the lander crashed into the surface on November 27, 1971.
The Soviet Union’s Mars 3 achieved the first soft landing on Mars in 1971, but contact was lost shortly afterward. NASA’s Viking 1 made the first fully successful landing in 1976. Its lander transmitted images and scientific data from the surface until 1982.
NASA’s Sojourner, which arrived on Mars in 1997 as part of the Pathfinder mission, became the first rover to operate on another planet. The Sojourner rover operated for 83 sols, making scientific measurements and taking pictures.
NASA’s twin rovers Spirit and Opportunity reached the Red Planet in 2004. The rovers were tasked with studying the planet’s climatic history and looking for evidence of past water activity. Originally, the mission was planned to last 90 sols (Martian days). However, both rovers exceeded their planned mission lifetimes by many years: Spirit operated until 2010, and Opportunity stopped working only in 2018.
In 2012, NASA’s rover Curiosity arrived at Gale Crater on Mars. The rover has studied the Martian climate and geology and found evidence that Mars once had conditions favorable for microbial life. Curiosity is still active on Mars, more than a decade after landing.
In 2021, China successfully landed its first spacecraft on Mars as part of the Tianwen-1 mission. Its rover, Zhurong, became the first non-NASA rover to operate on Mars. Zhurong worked on the Martian surface for about a year before entering hibernation in 2022; it has not resumed operations since then.
Also in 2021, NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on the Red Planet. The rover is exploring the Jezero Crater region, searching for signs of ancient microbial life, and collecting rock and soil samples for possible return to Earth. The mission also carried the Ingenuity helicopter, which made the first powered, controlled flight on another planet on April 19, 2021. Ingenuity completed 72 flights before its mission ended in January 2024.
What Is Mars Made of?
Like Mercury, Venus, and Earth, Mars is a rocky planet. It has a layered interior consisting of a core, mantle, and crust, as well as a thin atmosphere.
How was Mars formed?
Mars formed together with the other Solar System planets. About 4.5 billion years ago, a giant cloud of interstellar gas and dust collapsed under its own gravity and flattened into a protoplanetary disk. Mars and the other rocky planets formed in the inner part of this disk, while the gas giants settled in the outer regions of the young Solar System.
Mars structure
Mars has a central core, a mantle, and a crust. The Red Planet’s core is made of iron, nickel, and sulfur. It is surrounded by a rocky mantle and a crust made of iron, magnesium, aluminum, calcium, and potassium.
Mars atmosphere
The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth’s. It is composed primarily of carbon dioxide (95%), while our planet’s atmosphere is rich in nitrogen and oxygen. Thus, humans would not be able to breathe on Mars.
However, in April 2021, NASA’s rover Perseverance successfully converted a small portion of the Martian atmosphere into oxygen. In the future, this technology might be able to provide astronauts with breathable air.
How Many Moons Does Mars Have?
Mars has two moons: Phobos and Deimos. Both of them were discovered by American astronomer Asaph Hall in 1877. The moons of Mars are among the smallest in the Solar System: Earth’s Moon is more than 100 times wider than Phobos, the larger Martian moon. Like our Moon, Phobos and Deimos are tidally locked to their planet and always show only one side to it.
What Does Mars Look Like?
Mars has a dusty, reddish surface marked by enormous volcanoes, deep canyons, impact craters, and polar ice caps. Spacecraft images reveal details that cannot be seen from Earth.
Mars surface
The surface of Mars is cold, rocky, dusty, and mostly dry. It consists of vast plains, rocky deserts, sand dunes, impact craters, mountains, and deep valleys. Much of the planet’s bedrock is volcanic, while its soil and dust contain iron minerals that have oxidized, giving Mars its characteristic reddish color. Up close, the landscape also contains shades of brown, gold, and gray.
Mars has some of the most impressive geological features in the Solar System. Olympus Mons is the largest known volcano on any planet, while Valles Marineris is one of the largest canyon systems. The planet also has polar ice caps containing water ice and seasonal deposits of frozen carbon dioxide. Strong winds reshape dunes and can lift enough dust into the atmosphere to create enormous storms.
Today, Mars has no stable rivers or lakes on its surface. However, ancient river valleys, lakebeds, and deltas provide strong evidence that liquid water once flowed across the planet. NASA’s Perseverance rover is exploring the terrain around Jezero Crater, where a river once deposited sediments into a lake billions of years ago. These formations help scientists reconstruct Mars’ wetter past and investigate whether the planet could once have supported microbial life.
Real pictures of Mars
What does Mars really look like? Thanks to spacecraft and rovers, we can explore the Red Planet in remarkable detail — from its enormous canyons to the rocky landscapes of its surface. Here are three real images of Mars from different perspectives.
Some Mars images combine multiple photographs or use color adjustments to make details easier to distinguish. However, they are based on actual spacecraft observations, not artists’ impressions.
What does Mars look like from Earth?
What you can see on Mars depends on your equipment, observing conditions, and the planet’s distance from Earth.
- When observed with the naked eye, Mars looks like a small, bright, reddish-orange dot. The planet doesn’t appear large enough to show any surface details. It looks similar to a bright star, though it stands out thanks to its color and steady light, as planets don’t twinkle as much as stars do.
- Through binoculars, Mars will still look mostly like a bright reddish point of light. Binoculars are useful for spotting Mars near the Moon, stars, or planets.
- In a telescope, Mars looks like a small disk. Depending on the size and magnification of the telescope, you can get a much more detailed view of the planet. Surface features like polar ice caps, dark markings, and even atmospheric activity can become visible.
When and Where Is Mars Visible in 2026–2027?
Mars is becoming increasingly favorable for observation in late 2026 as it approaches opposition on February 19, 2027. Its brightness and apparent size will increase over the coming months, making it easier to spot with the naked eye and more interesting to observe through a telescope.
- November 2026: Mars is primarily a late-night and early-morning object. Look for it in the eastern sky after it rises, and observe it higher above the horizon before dawn.
- December 2026: Mars rises earlier and becomes visible for a greater part of the night. Its growing apparent disk makes telescopic observation more rewarding.
- January 2027: The Red Planet becomes brighter and can be observed during much of the night. Conditions continue to improve as opposition approaches.
- February 2027: Mars reaches opposition on February 19, shining at approximately magnitude −1.3 in the constellation Leo. Its apparent diameter will reach about 13.8 arcseconds, and the planet will be visible from around sunset until sunrise.
The best time to view Mars depends on where you live. Observers should look for the planet when it is highest above the horizon, as this reduces the amount of Earth’s atmosphere they must look through. Use Sky Tonight to check Mars’ position and choose the best viewing time for your location.
Upcoming Events
In November 2026, Mars will appear near the Moon, Jupiter, and Regulus. Most of these celestial pairings and groupings will be visible to the naked eye. The best viewing times will depend on your location.
November 14, 2026: Mars in a small planetary alignment
Before dawn around November 14, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury will form a loose planetary alignment, although some planets will appear low above the horizon. Mars (mag 0.7) and Jupiter (mag −2.1) will rise first, appearing close together ahead of their conjunction on November 15. Brilliant Venus (mag −4.8) and Mercury (mag 0.2) will emerge closer to sunrise and remain lower above the horizon.
Exact rise times and visibility will vary considerably by location. Use the Planet Walk mode in the Star Walk 2 app to find the best viewing time and see how the planets will appear from your exact location. Learn more about the November 2026 planet parade in our dedicated article.
November 15–16, 2026: Mars near Jupiter
- Conjunction time: November 15, 02:42 UTC (November 14, 9:42 PM EST)
- Conjunction distance: 1°14′
- Close approach time: November 16, 02:04 UTC (November 15, 9:04 PM EST)
- Close approach distance: 1°11′
On November 15–16, Mars (mag 0.7) and Jupiter (mag −2.1) will shine close together in the constellation Leo. The planets will rise around midnight and climb higher until dawn. Both will be easy to spot with the naked eye near the Sickle asterism.
At the listed best times, the apparent separation between Mars and Jupiter rounds to 1.2° in every city.
| City | Time zone | Visibility start | Visibility end | Best time | Mars altitude | Jupiter altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | November 16, 00:10 | November 16, 06:40 | November 16, 06:00 | 53° | 52° |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | November 16, 00:15 | November 16, 06:10 | November 16, 05:40 | 63° | 62° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | November 16, 00:20 | November 16, 06:00 | November 16, 05:30 | 69° | 68° |
| Singapore, Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | November 16, 02:00 | November 16, 06:25 | November 16, 06:00 | 66° | 67° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | November 16, 00:55 | November 16, 06:15 | November 16, 05:50 | 73° | 72° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEDT (UTC+11) | November 16, 02:45 | November 16, 05:15 | November 16, 04:40 | 30° | 31° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | November 16, 03:20 | November 16, 05:30 | November 16, 05:00 | 26° | 27° |
- Viewing begins: Both planets are at least 10° above the horizon.
- Best time: A time chosen to balance the pair’s separation, altitude, and sky darkness. It may differ from the moment of minimum separation.
- Viewing ends: The Sun reaches about 6° below the horizon, and the brightening sky makes the planets harder to see.
- Separation and altitudes are provided for the “best time”.
November 22, 2026: Mars, Jupiter, and Regulus form a triangle
Before dawn on November 22, Mars (mag 0.6), Jupiter (mag −2.1), and Regulus (mag 1.4) will make a nearly isosceles triangle in Leo. The entire triangle fits easily in the field of view of typical binoculars and is visible to the naked eye.
Jupiter will be the brightest point, Mars will look reddish-orange, and Regulus will appear blue-white. The trio will stand higher in the sky for observers at northern mid-latitudes, although it is also visible from the Southern Hemisphere.
| City | Time zone | Visibility start | Visibility end | Best time | Lowest object | Altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | November 22, 00:10 | November 22, 06:50 | November 22, 00:10 | Regulus | 10° | −58° |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | November 22, 00:15 | November 22, 06:20 | November 22, 00:15 | Regulus | 10° | −68° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | November 22, 00:15 | November 22, 06:05 | November 22, 00:15 | Regulus | 10° | −74° |
| Beijing, China | CST (UTC+8) | November 22, 00:35 | November 22, 06:35 | November 22, 06:35 | Regulus | 62° | −6° |
| Shanghai, China | CST (UTC+8) | November 22, 00:20 | November 22, 06:00 | November 22, 06:00 | Regulus | 71° | −6° |
| Tokyo, Japan | JST (UTC+9) | November 22, 00:05 | November 22, 05:55 | November 22, 05:55 | Regulus | 66° | −6° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEDT (UTC+11) | November 22, 02:25 | November 22, 05:10 | November 22, 05:10 | Mars | 36° | −6° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | November 22, 03:00 | November 22, 05:30 | November 22, 05:30 | Mars | 33° | −6° |
- Visibility criteria: All three objects are at least 10° above the horizon, and the Sun is below −6°.
- Best time: The moment within the listed viewing period when the absolute difference between the Mars–Jupiter and Mars–Regulus angular separations is smallest.
- Altitude: The height of the lowest of the three objects at Best time. Sun altitude refers to the same moment.
- Observing conditions: Where Best time falls near morning twilight, observing earlier provides a darker sky with only a small change in the triangle’s shape. The bright waxing gibbous Moon may reduce contrast where it is above the horizon.
- Table values: All times are local and rounded to the nearest five minutes. Altitudes refer to the exact calculated Best time before rounding and are rounded to 1°. Visibility thresholds are applied before rounding, so displayed boundary times may fall slightly outside them.
November 24–27, 2026: Mars passes close to Regulus
- Conjunction time: November 24, 22:03 UTC (5:03 PM EST)
- Conjunction distance: 1°48′
- Close approach time: November 26, 05:15 UTC (12:15 AM EST)
- Close approach distance: 1°43′
From November 24 to 27, Mars (mag 0.6) will pass close to Regulus (mag 1.4) in the constellation Leo. Both objects will be visible to the naked eye and will fit easily within a binocular field of view.
This is a good opportunity to compare the reddish-orange color of Mars with the blue-white color of Regulus. Look for the pair from around midnight until dawn. Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will see them higher in the sky, while those in the Southern Hemisphere will see them lower toward the northern part of the sky.
| City | Time zone | Visibility start | Visibility end | Best time | Mars altitude | Regulus altitude | Sun altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | November 25, 23:55 | November 26, 07:00 | November 26, 05:55 | 52° | 50° | −16° |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | November 26, 00:00 | November 26, 06:25 | November 26, 00:00 | 11° | 10° | −70° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | November 26, 00:00 | November 26, 06:10 | November 26, 00:00 | 10° | 10° | −76° |
| Beijing, China | CST (UTC+8) | November 26, 00:20 | November 26, 06:40 | November 26, 06:40 | 63° | 61° | −6° |
| Shanghai, China | CST (UTC+8) | November 26, 00:05 | November 26, 06:05 | November 26, 06:05 | 72° | 70° | −6° |
| Tokyo, Japan | JST (UTC+9) | November 25, 23:50 | November 26, 06:00 | November 26, 06:00 | 67° | 65° | −6° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEDT (UTC+11) | November 27, 02:15 | November 27, 05:10 | November 27, 02:15 | 10° | 12° | −31° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | November 27, 02:45 | November 27, 05:25 | November 27, 02:45 | 10° | 12° | −28° |
- Visibility criteria: Both objects are at least 10° above the horizon, and the Sun is below −6°.
- Visibility start and end: The boundaries of the viewing period containing Best time.
- Best time: The moment when Mars and Regulus appear closest together from the listed city while meeting the visibility criteria.
- Altitudes: The heights of Mars, Regulus, and the Sun at Best time.
- Observing conditions: Best time prioritizes minimum angular separation. Observing later can provide a higher view where Best time falls near the beginning of the viewing period; observing earlier can provide a darker sky where it falls near morning twilight. The separation changes very little during a single night.
- Table values: All times are local and rounded to the nearest five minutes. Altitudes refer to the exact calculated Best time before rounding and are rounded to 1°. Visibility thresholds are applied before rounding, so displayed boundary times may fall slightly outside them.
November 30, 2026: Moon near Mars
- Close approach time: November 30, 16:54 UTC (11:54 AM EST)
- Close approach distance: 2°59′
- Conjunction time: November 30, 19:34 UTC (2:34 PM EST)
- Conjunction distance: 3°20′
On November 30, the waning gibbous Moon will pass close to Mars (mag 0.4) in the constellation Leo. The pair will be visible to the naked eye, while binoculars will provide a closer view.
Observers in East Asia, Australia, and New Zealand will get particularly close views during the late-night hours of November 30 and early December 1. In the Americas, the pair will be visible before dawn on November 30, although the objects will appear farther apart. European observers can look for them late on November 30 and before dawn on December 1.
| City | Time zone | Visibility start | Visibility end | Best time | Separation | Moon altitude | Mars altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | November 29, 23:45 | November 30, 06:30 | November 30, 06:30 | 4.7° | 57° | 60° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | November 29, 23:50 | November 30, 06:10 | November 30, 06:10 | 3.7° | 64° | 67° |
| Mexico City, Mexico | CST (UTC−6) | November 30, 00:45 | November 30, 06:30 | November 30, 06:30 | 4.0° | 79° | 83° |
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | December 1, 00:20 | December 1, 07:05 | December 1, 00:20 | 6.0° | 10° | 16° |
| Beijing, China | CST (UTC+8) | December 1, 00:10 | December 1, 06:45 | December 1, 00:10 | 3.2° | 10° | 11° |
| Shanghai, China | CST (UTC+8) | November 30, 23:55 | December 1, 06:10 | November 30, 23:55 | 3.1° | 10° | 11° |
| Tokyo, Japan | JST (UTC+9) | November 30, 23:35 | December 1, 06:05 | December 1, 00:20 | 3.1° | 19° | 20° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEDT (UTC+11) | December 1, 02:05 | December 1, 05:10 | December 1, 03:05 | 2.2° | 24° | 22° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | December 1, 02:35 | December 1, 05:25 | December 1, 05:15 | 2.2° | 36° | 34° |
- Visibility start and end: The boundaries of the viewing period when both the Moon and Mars are at least 10° above the horizon and the Sun is below −6°.
- Best time: The moment when the Moon and Mars appear closest together within the local viewing period, with both objects at least 10° above the horizon and the Sun below −6°.
- Separation: The apparent angular distance between the Moon’s center and Mars, as seen from each city.
- Moon and Mars altitudes: Their heights above the horizon at Best time.
- Observing conditions: In cities where Best time occurs with the objects low above the horizon, observing later may provide a clearer view. Where Best time falls near dawn, observing earlier offers a darker sky.
- Table values: All times are local and rounded to the nearest five minutes. Separations and altitudes are calculated for city centers and rounded to 0.1° and 1°, respectively. Visibility thresholds are applied before rounding, so displayed boundary times may fall slightly outside them.
February 19, 2027: Mars at opposition
On February 19, 2027, Mars will reach opposition. Opposition is the moment when a planet appears opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky. Around this time, Mars is visible for nearly the entire night and appears close to its brightest and largest for that observing cycle.
During this opposition, Mars will shine at approximately magnitude −1.3 and reach an apparent diameter of 13.8 arcseconds. It will be visible for nearly the entire night in the constellation Leo. Mars will be easy to spot with the naked eye, while a telescope may reveal its polar cap and dark surface markings under steady atmospheric conditions.
Oppositions of Mars don’t happen every year — the next one after February 2027 will occur on March 25, 2029. Learn how these events work in our guide to oppositions of planets and other Solar System bodies.
Mars: Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover water, rings, gravity, color, temperature, age, and active rovers on Mars.
Is there water on Mars?
Yes. Water ice is present in Mars’ polar caps and beneath parts of its surface. Ancient river valleys, lakebeds, deltas, and water-altered minerals also show that liquid water existed there in the past. A 2024 analysis of seismic data from NASA’s InSight lander suggests that liquid water may remain deep within the crust, although this interpretation has not been directly confirmed.
Liquid water is essential to all known life, making Mars an important target in the search for extraterrestrial life. Explore the conditions that could support life beyond Earth in our infographic on life in the Universe.
Does Mars have rings?
No, Mars does not have rings today. However, it may develop a ring system in the distant future. Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two moons, is gradually spiraling toward the planet. In roughly 50 million years, it could break apart under the influence of Mars’ gravity, creating a ring of rocky debris. Alternatively, the moon could crash into Mars without forming a lasting ring.
What is the gravity on Mars?
Gravity on Mars is about 38% of Earth’s gravity, or 3.71 m/s² compared with Earth’s 9.81 m/s². This means a person with a mass of 80 kg (176 lbs) would still have the same mass on Mars, but would weigh only about 38% as much — equivalent to the weight of a 30 kg (66 lbs) person on Earth. Walking and jumping would feel easier, although prolonged exposure to low gravity could have negative effects on muscles and bones.
What color is Mars?
The predominant color of the Martian surface is red. It is explained by the prevalence of iron oxide — more commonly known as rust — in the planet’s soil. Other colors on Mars include golden, brown, and tan.
What is the temperature on Mars?
The average temperature on Mars is approximately −65 °C (−85 °F), but conditions vary greatly depending on location, season, and time of day. On a warm afternoon near the equator, temperatures can approach 20 °C (68 °F), while during polar winters they can fall below −120 °C (−184 °F).
These extreme differences are largely caused by Mars’ thin atmosphere, which retains very little heat. As a result, even locations that become relatively warm during the day can experience freezing temperatures at night. The planet’s frequent dust storms can also affect local temperatures by changing how sunlight heats the surface and atmosphere.
How old is Mars?
Mars is approximately 4.5 billion years old, making it roughly the same age as Earth and the other planets in the Solar System. Scientists estimate its age by studying Martian meteorites, using radiometric dating, and modeling the formation of the early Solar System. Mars formed from gas and dust surrounding the young Sun, gradually developing its core, mantle, and crust.
How many rovers are still active on Mars?
As of 2026, there are two currently operating rovers on the Red Planet: Curiosity and Perseverance, both owned by NASA.
Planet Mars: To Sum Up
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and the second smallest planet in the Solar System. Its ancient river valleys and lakebeds preserve evidence of a wetter past. In November 2026, it is visible late at night and before dawn, with several close encounters involving the Moon, Jupiter, and Regulus.
Download Sky Tonight to plan your Mars observations and watch our educational cartoon with facts about Mars.
Explore the other Solar System planets
Explore our guides to the other planets in the Solar System:
- Mercury – the smallest and fastest planet;
- Venus – Earth’s evil twin;
- Jupiter – the biggest planet;
- Saturn – the “Lord of the Rings” (and moons!);
- Uranus – the coldest planet;
- Neptune – the farthest planet;
- and Pluto, which was famously reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 — a decision that still sparks debate.
Learn more space facts
Want to learn more facts about space? Then you’ll love our quiz about the “most-est” objects in the Solar System! Find out which of them is the hottest or fastest, and where the tallest mountain and deepest canyon are located.
