Planets, good from here
Mars at opposition
Mars is opposite the Sun and closest to Earth for two years, shining orange beside Jupiter in Leo.
- When
- Friday, 19 February 2027, 17:44 CAT
- Best time
- 22:30 to 02:00 CAT on Friday, 19 February 2027
- Where to look
- North, high around midnight
- From Zimbabwe
- Good from here. Mars rises in the east-north-east around sunset and is about 57 degrees up in the north at midnight.
Mars reaches opposition on 19 February and comes closest to Earth, 101 million km away, the next day. It is a distant opposition by Mars standards, so the planet looks small in a telescope, but it is bright at magnitude −1.2 and easy to spot as an orange point near even brighter Jupiter. Mars and Jupiter reaching opposition within eight days of each other makes February 2027 a fine month for planet watching.
Tips for watching
A telescope at high magnification may show the dark markings and a polar cap on steady nights.
Times are Central Africa Time, worked out for Harare; other towns in Zimbabwe differ by a few minutes. Source: Computed for Harare with Astronomy Engine; cross-checked with BBC Sky at Night Magazine.