Opposition Phenomenon (Mars)

Recently, Mars became the third brightest object (moon and Venus are first and second, respectively) outshining Jupiter in the night sky

• Recently, Mars became the third brightest object (moon and Venus are first and second, respectively) outshining Jupiter in the night sky.

• • This event is referred to as “opposition”.
  • It takes place every two years and two months.
  • Opposition is the event when the sun, Earth and an outer planet are lined up, with the Earth in the middle. 
  • The time of opposition is the point when the outer planet is typically also at its closest distance to the Earth for a given year.
  • Since it is close, the planet appears brighter in the sky.