Shortly before midnight on October 13, Mars will be in Opposition. When a planet is in Opposition, it means that it is practically in perfect alignment with the Sun and Earth.
This makes for perfect viewing as there is one is able to see the Red Planet without glare from the Sun, against an almost pitch black backdrop of the Universe.
The phenomenon happens roughly every 26 months, with Mars, and astronomers are allowing you to watch the spectacle as it happens.
Mars will be in Opposition at 11.20pm UTC on October 13, with the Virtual Telescope Project live streaming the event.
How to watch Mars in Opposition?
The Virtual Telescope Project will be hosting a live stream of the astronomical phenomenon on its website.
Proceedings will kick off at 8pm UTC (9pm BST) on the company’s website.
The Virtual Telescope Project will be showing Mars in Opposition in stunningly clear views, allowing you to see it from the comfort of your own home.
It said: “After more than two years, planet Mars is back at its best to be observed.
“The Virtual Telescope will bring the beauty of the Red Planet to you.
“Next 13 Oct. 2020, the Red Planet will be at its opposition, offering the best observing conditions since July 2018.
“To enjoy this great event, the Virtual Telescope Project will offer a free, online observing session focused on Mars, to discover this extremely intriguing body.”
Earth’s orbit is much closer to the Sun than Mars’, meaning our journey around the host star is much quicker – 365 days compared to Mars’ 687 days.
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“During opposition, Mars and the sun are on directly opposite sides of Earth. From our perspective on our spinning world, Mars rises in the east just as the sun sets in the west.
“Then, after staying up in the sky the entire night, Mars sets in the west just as the sun rises in the east.
“Since Mars and the sun appear on opposite sides of the sky, we say that Mars is in ‘opposition’.”