Early in 2025, the red planet will reach a point known as opposition, a point of peak viewing when Mars, Earth and the sun form a line, with our planet in the middle.
Like the moon when it’s full, Mars will be aligned with its entire illuminated face turned toward Earth. This setup makes opposition the “best time to see and photograph a planet,” according to Royal Museums Greenwich.
All planets beyond Earth’s orbit can reach this alignment from our perspective. Jupiter, for example, hits opposition every 13 months - and it’s just past that point now, still appearing at near-peak viewing.
But Mars has “the most anticipated planetary opposition of all,” according to Star Walk. Its oppositions are the least frequent of the planets, occurring about every 26 months. And because Mars is closer to Earth than the gas giants, it appears to have the most dramatic increase in size when it reaches this position.
On the evening of 15 January - tomorrow night - Mars will rise in the east as the sun sets in the west, and it will be visible nearly all night long. The red planet will appear brightly, even to the naked eye, but a pair of good binoculars or a small telescope will really bring out its features.
For an even more dramatic planetary event, head outside on 28 February. All seven of the solar system’s other planets will appear together in Earth’s skies in a rare alignment. But, don't worry, OGN will remind you of that nearer the time.