do not forget Halloween. This October is about the glory of Mars. The bright red planet will have a show in the night sky.

You can enjoy the bright light of Mars every month, but there are two special dates to mark on your calendar: October 6 when the planet is closest to Earth, and October 13, when it is in opposition.

Finding Mars

Mars has the reputation of being the “red” planet, but in the night sky its color is slightly higher on the Halloween side of the spectrum. It looks like a tiny speck of shiny rust with bright orange-red dots to the naked eye.

The distinctive color of Mars is a sign that you have found in the dark. Look up at the eastern sky to catch the night sky. This month it will look brighter if your local weather cooperates to give you a better view.

Next approach: October 6

Tuesday, October 6 marks the closest approach to Earth with Mars. This is a great time to grab a telescope and get some better looks. Enter a wave NASA’s Perseverance Rover When you are in it. The vehicle is on track to reach the planet in February 2021.

NASA shared an artist’s perspective on Tuesday, October 6th This compares with the last hidden time in July 2018. The sizes that appear are very similar. This year, the minimum distance to Mars will be 38.6 million miles (62 million kilometers), which is about 3 million miles more than in 2018.

Opposition: October 13

The red planet is said to be opposite when Mars, the Sun and the Earth line up in the middle. This is the perfect time to observe the movement of Mars across the sky. When the sun sets, it rises in the east, moves across the sky, and sets in the west when the sun rises.

NASA describes the opposition “Effectively a ‘full’ Mars.” Tuesday, October 13 is the time to enjoy the opposition. You will have to wait more than two years for this to happen again.

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“Explains why the raceout track model of planetary orbit. Earth and Mars are like runners on a track. NASA said in its October WhatsApp blog. “Every 26 months, the fastest Earth slows down and overtakes Mars. Opposition occurs just as the Earth is advancing.”

Mars is not the only sky shown in October. You can too Wait for the rare Halloween blue moon When our lunar neighbor fills up on October 31st. This is not spooky; This is Boo-Typhoon.