Moon and Mars: double heavenly event coming this month

With Mars closer than in 15 years, almost double the brightness of Jupiter to the naked eye, and the longest total lunar eclipse of the century, space enthusiasts can tune in the heavens for a double celestial enchantment this month.

On the night of July 27-28, the moon will be totally eclipsed for one hour and 43 minutes. The event can be observed in much of the globe, including India, where it can be seen after 11:54 Indian Standard Time on July 27th.

According to Dr. Debiprosad Duari, director of research and teaching at MP Birla Institute of Fundamental Research, it will be the longest lunar eclipse of the century.

Four days later, another spectacular celestial event will captivate millions of people around the world, Duari said.
On July 31, Mars, the fourth planet of the Sun, will be 57.6 million kilometers from Earth, the closest since 2003 when it was 55.7 million kilometers, the closest for nearly 60,000 years .

"The red planet will be at its peak since 2003, when Mars made its closest approach to the Earth in almost 60,000 years since September 24, 57617 BC," Duari said. PTI.

Mars will be visible in the night sky after sunset until sunrise from all over India, provided the monsoon clouds do not play spoilsport.

Explaining the celestial phenomenon, the astrophysicist stated that the orbital period increases as the distance between a planet and the Sun increases. That's why Earth takes a little over 365 days to go around the Sun and Mars takes 687 days.

"Due to the difference in orbital velocity and the orbital period, every 26 months or so, the Earth pbades between Mars and the Sun, bringing Mars and the Sun to exactly opposite sides." Duari said .

This year, Mars will be at its opposition on July 27, only 51 days before going through its perihelion – its closest point to the Sun in its orbit.

"As it will be close enough to the Earth at this time, it will appear very bright and will be visible pretty much after sunset and will stay in the sky until sunrise. The Red Planet shines very well in our night sky.It will be easier to see it clearly with telescopes or even to the naked eye, "Duari said.

Mars is approaching these exceptional opportunities only once or twice every 15 or 17 years, he added.

"The next opposition of Mars, when it will look relatively brighter and larger than average, will take place on October 6, 2020. But it will be a little further, at about 61.76 million. kilometers from Earth and will be relatively smaller and less luminous than July 31, 2018. "

The next closest approach, but not as close as 2003, will not be until 2035.

"He will not approach the Earth until in 2003 only on 2287 (August 29), when there may be no one on Earth to witness it," Duari said. .
Referring to the 2003 Internet hoax that Mars would be as big as the Moon when it was closest to Earth, Duari said the rumor has surfaced every year in August since then.

"But it should be noted that at its closest approach this year, Mars will be only 24.3 arcs.

Seconds across and far from the size of the moon, which has 75 times more diameter than it appears, "he said.

It is prudent to look at the celestial event through the naked eye. Those hoping to see more details can use a telescope four inches in diameter and larger.

The South Polar region and the ice caps that cover it will be visible from Earth through a medium-sized telescope, Duari said.

"Just after sunset, you have to look near the east-southeast horizon to see this bright planet, appearing 1.8 times brighter than Jupiter," he said.

He also expressed the hope that a great gusting dust storm engulfing Mars, spotted by astronomers, would disappear by July 31 and that the red planet could be seen at its approach the next day. closer in all its splendor.