[Science Report]:Observing Mars


19 Jun 2001, 20:34 UTC

This is the VOA SpecialEnglish Science Report.

Scientists say this is a good time to observe the planet Mars.Mars changes in brightness more than any other planet. In June andJuly, Mars will shine brighter than Sirius, the brightest star inthe sky. Mars is also interesting to watch from week to week becauseit moves among the stars more quickly than other planets. Mars isknown as "the red planet." In fact, it is bright orange.

This month, you can observe Mars best around the middle of thenight. If you face directly south, Mars will be the brightest starbefore you. If you live in the northern half of the world, Mars willbe low in the southern sky, near the star group called Scorpius. ButMars will be almost overhead if you live in the southern half of theworld. You can easily recognize Mars because of its brightness andorange color.

This month, Mars will be especially bright for two reasons. Aboutevery two years, Mars reaches a point opposite the sun in our sky. Aplanet is said to be at "opposition" when this happens. Mars reachedopposition on June thirteenth.

Mars also has an unusual orbit. The distance from Earth to thesun changes very little because Earth's orbit is almost a perfectcircle. But Mars' orbit is shaped more like an egg than a circle. Soits distance from the sun changes much more during the Martian year.

On June twenty-first, "the red planet" will be about sixty-sevenmillion kilometers from Earth. This is the closest Mars has beensince Nineteen-Eighty-Eight.

You can see changes in Mars' distance from Earth at oppositionmost clearly by using a telescope. This year, even a small telescopewill show that Mars is round like a very small full moon. A largertelescope will show markings that are caused by different qualitiesof the Martian soil. Some areas reflect more sunlight than othersdo. On Earth, we see these differences as spots or markings ofdifferent colors.

A telescope also will show that the north and south poles of Marsare covered with ice just like the Earth's poles. Even huge duststorms have been seen in the Martian atmosphere.

Mars has captured the human imagination for thousands of years.Its changes in brightness and its movement through the sky make Marsa special sight. Next week we will tell more about Mars, themysterious "red planet."

This VOA Special English Science Report was written by MarioRitter.

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