AN amazing photo has been revealed from the upcoming Mars opposition on December 8.
Experts say stargazers should be ready Thursday night for the Mars opposition – an orbiting phenomenon that places the red planet directly across from the sun.
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The gorgeous image was shared by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, who explores the universe “from a backyard in Arizona,” according to his Twitter bio.
He posted the exact moment that Mars peaked from behind our Moon, a position that makes the planet more visible than normal.
However, he still used some advanced technology to capture the opposition which won’t happen again until 2025, per AccuWeather.
“This shot was captured using my largest telescope and a special high-speed camera,” McCarthy wrote.
“Seeing another planet rising on the horizon of our moon was such a surreal experience.”
Mars will reportedly be very visible next to the Moon throughout the entire night, appearing in the eastern sky just after sunset and setting in the western sky a little bit before sunrise on Friday, December 9.
It’s also imperative to go see Mars’s appearance tonight as well, as opposition only happens once every 26 months for the Red Planet.
The reason Mars will be so easy to spot tonight is because of the brightness that opposition provides to the planet.
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It is also the closest it will be to Earth, making it appear brighter than any other position in its orbital pattern.
If you’re unable to view it on December 8 for whatever reason, there’s not too much need to worry.
It will remain bright and visible from this point through the end of 2022.
However, those in specific locations around the globe will be able to see Mars better than most because of the weather, according to experts.
People located in and around the Gulf Coast, the central Plains, the interior Southwest, and northern New England will likely have the best viewing experience.
Viewers should be able to see the red and orange glow of Mars more prominently than ever.
Additionally, no telescope should be required to see it, as opposition allows visibility to the naked eye.
Having a telescope will only enhance the ability to locate the Red Planet for more detailed viewing.
McCarthy has amassed over 150,000 followers on Twitter after he started posting his amazing space photography.
He has been tracking Mars’ journey after it was covered by the Moon for more than an hour, and even posted a video of the Red Planet peaking through Thursday evening.
Even if you don’t have advanced equipment like McCarthy you can still get a good look at Mars.
Several live webcasts from the Lowell Observatory in Arizona are covering the planet when it hits peak visibility beginning at 9pm ET.
A special joint live stream between McDonald Observatory and Lowell Observatory will take place on YouTube.
“Join hosts from both observatories as we discuss all things Mars, such as its science, history, geology, and future missions, and, if weather permits, show some live views of Mars from telescopes on both sites,” the caption on the stream reads.
