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  • BBC Sky at Night

    THE PLANETS

    Jul 16, 2020 3 minutes

    Mars

    Best time to see: 31 August, 04:00 BST (03:00 UT)

    Altitude: 43˚

    Location: Pisces

    Direction: South

    Features: Dark ‘albedo’ features, polar caps and weather

    Recommended equipment: 150mm or larger

    Mars reaches opposition in mid-October, a time when it appears largest and brightest for the current period of observation. A planet is said to be in opposition when the Earth lies directly between it and the Sun. The last Mars opposition was poor as seen from the UK since it was never all

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