December 8-Mars Hedge
December 8-Mars Hedge
The conjunction period of Mars and Earth is about 780 days, which is rarer than that of Jupiter opposition and Saturn opposition, and Mars is very bright before and after opposition, which attracts the most attention of astronomers. This year, Mars opposition occurred on December 8. At 13:42, it is in the constellation Taurus and can be observed all night.
One of Earth's closest neighbors will become a prominent feature in the night sky in the second half of 2022, culminating in peak brightness in early December.
Mars opposition is when the red planet is opposite the sun from Earth's perspective. Therefore, it is visible all night and is brighter than most stars in the sky.
