WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Astro Minute: The Red Planet

Episode Date: January 22, 2025

Mars shines extra brightly in the winter night sky. Learn to spot it in today's episode of Astro Minute!

Welcome to the Astro Minute, where we're exploring the universe 60 seconds out of time. I'm Lauren Smith, and today we're looking at the red planet. Our neighboring planet Mars will shine extra brightly all night long throughout January. The red planet's brightness varies considerably, but right now, it's a mere 61 million miles from Earth and opposite the sun in our sky, appearing brighter than it will again until 2027. The fourth planet from the sun is about half the size of Earth and features a thin atmosphere, polar ice caps, two small moons, and a wild version of the seasons. Mars may have earthly visitors soon. The race is on to overcome the challenge of distance and extreme space and planetary climate to say hello in person.

You'll find bright red Mars right now near twin stars, Pollux and Castor, rising in the northeast and setting in the southwest, and look for Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn to join the red planet in our winter skies. That's your Astro Minute.