Students of the Nordenham grammar school: Mars now particularly clearly visible!

Students of the Nordenham grammar school: Mars now particularly clearly visible!

Nordenham, Deutschland - On January 17, 2025, students from the Astronomy Working Group of the Nordenham High School observed Mars, which is currently particularly visible. The planet appears light red because it is near the earth. Mars reached his opposition on January 16, which means that the earth is directly between the sun and Mars. The maximum approach took place four days earlier when Mars was closest to the earth with a distance of 96.1 million kilometers.

This opposition is significant because the distances to Mars vary depending on the year; In 2003 Mars was only 55.8 million kilometers away. The next comparable conditions will not be expected until 2035. Such mars oppositions are of great importance for space travel because they represent the optimal time for flights to Mars. Scientists hope that studies on Mars can contribute to clarifying questions about the origin of the earth and life. They currently suspect frozen water under the surface of the Mars, especially in the polar regions. However, previous missions to search for life on Mars were unsuccessful.

public observation evenings

The head of Astronomie-AG, Julian Witschen, explained that the participants do not want to exchange their home on Earth for Mars. He and his students prefer the observation of Mars with a telescope. In order to celebrate the astronomical event, public observation evenings are planned at the observatory of the high school. These events take place on January 30th and February 13th from 7 p.m. and registrations are possible online.

The observation conditions for Mars are currently ideal: such as Live Science reported, Mars will be clearly visible by 2027. In addition, the planet will appear brighter and larger than ever since December 20222. On January 12, 2023, Mars had his greatest approach to the earth with 59.7 million miles (96.1 million kilometers).

These unique visual relationships not only arouse the interest of amateur astronomers, but also underline the relevance of Marsforschung. The planet remains a decisive goal for future scientific missions, since the international community continues to work to decipher the secrets of the red planet.