"After the Wright Brothers proved 117 years ago that powered, sustained, and controlled flight was possible here on Earth, another group of American pioneers may prove the same can be done on another world."
Many people think Polaris is the sky's brightest star. It's not. In fact, Polaris ranks only 50th in brightness. Polaris is famous because the entire northern sky wheels around it.
Mars is getting bright! But it's still up between midnight and dawn. Between now and July, the Red Planet will shift over into the evening sky … and then the drama will begin!
Today's inner solar system, as viewed from above. Mars is red, Earth is blue. Contrast this chart to the one below. You can see that - this month - Earth is catching up to Mars in the race of the planets around the sun. That's why Mars is getting brighter. Image via Fourmilab.
We'll pass between between the sun and Mars on July 27. It'll be Mars' opposition, which happens about every 2 years. At such times, Mars is always brightest for that 2-year period. But there's also a 15-year cycle of Mars, whereby the red planet appears brighter and fainter in our skies. In July 2018, we'll be at the peak of the 2-year cycle - and near the peak of the 15-year cycle - and Mars will be very, very bright! Image via Fourmilab.
