{"id":31749,"date":"2022-05-12T08:33:35","date_gmt":"2022-05-12T08:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=108418"},"modified":"2022-05-12T08:52:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T08:52:10","slug":"get-ready-for-mars-at-opposition-in-december-2022","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/get-ready-for-mars-at-opposition-in-december-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Get ready for Mars at opposition in December 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Pete Lawrence\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 12 May 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

Mars reaches an apparent diameter of 6 arcseconds on 31 May 2022: pretty small but a viable size to record the planet as a disc.<\/p>\n

A good challenge to take us right through into 2023 is to start observing, imaging or drawing Mars at regular intervals from now until opposition<\/a> on 8 December 2022, and then through into the following year.<\/p>\n

For more observing dates and advice, read our guide to observing Mars<\/a> and sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mars before, during and after opposition Keith Johnson, Ferryhill, County Durham, 31 August\u2013 30 October 2020. Equipment: ZWO ASI 290MM mono camera, Celestron 9.25-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain, Sky-Watcher EQ6 Pro mount<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The start of this long-term project won\u2019t be too easy because Mars will be located in the brightening morning twilight<\/a>, with it being best placed at the end of May.<\/p>\n

The frequency of recording will need to be adjusted with the weather, but an observation a week or two apart at the start of the sequence should be sufficient.<\/p>\n

For help with this, read our guide on weather forecasting for astronomy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The planet will remain tricky through June 2022 and most of July, but then the lengthening nights and a brightening planet will work in your favour as we pass the summer solstice on 21 June.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The relative size of Mars as it appears mid-month from May 2022 to April 2023, through opposition on December 2022. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

It takes tenacity to remain with a planet like this, especially as the earlier results will probably look quite poor.<\/p>\n

However, sticking to your guns and grabbing results when the weather allows is a great way to connect to a distant world like Mars.<\/p>\n

Mars reaches opposition on 8 December 2022. The planet will present with a maximum apparent size of 17.2 arcseconds at the start of that month, which is someway short of last opposition\u2019s 22.6 arcseconds, achieved in October 2020.<\/p>\n

However, for the UK at least, Mars reaches opposition at a higher altitude this year and this will make a big difference.<\/p>\n

If you do manage to stick with Mars all the way from now through to \u2013 and possibly past \u2013 opposition, comparing results will give you a unique insight into how this planet can change in appearance dramatically.<\/p>\n

Photographing Mars<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
Mars at Opposition, 2016 by John Chumack, Dayton, Ohio, USA. Equipment: C8, Qhy5IIL CCD, 2x barlow.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

If you aim to photograph Mars, or indeed photographing the planets<\/a> in general, you need to decide whether to capture it in colour, monochrome, or monochrome with filters<\/a>, to generate a colour result.<\/p>\n

If you are intending to do a colour capture, consider investing in an atmospheric dispersion corrector<\/a> (ADC)\u00a0to reduce atmospherically induced colour fringing at the start of the project, which is a side-effect of low altitude.<\/p>\n

An infrared-sensitive monochrome camera fitted with an infrared pass filter will give you a colour fringe-free result and will go some way to overcoming the effects of atmospheric turbulence.<\/p>\n

This is because longer wavelengths tend to be less affected by atmospheric seeing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"""\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
The difference in the apparent size of Mars when it\u2019s at its most favourable opposition and when at its most distant from Earth. Credit: Pete Lawrence<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n

The distance between Mars and Earth will reduce as we approach December 2022 and surface detail should start to become more apparent in the months ahead of this.<\/p>\n

Additionally, constant recording will reveal the effects of the Martian weather and seasonal changes in the planet\u2019s polar caps.<\/p>\n

This guide originally appeared in the May 2022 issue of <\/strong><\/em>BBC Sky at Night Magazine<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/body><\/html>\n

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