Martian Astronomy - celestial observations from the surface of Mars
September 27, 2022 8:38 AM Subscribe
Let’s assume you’re standing on the surface of Mars between longitude 162°E - 202°E, and latitude 35°N and 41°N (any of the locations marked with a yellow or red star on Fig. 1 on this page. What sky-based events would be meaningful for a human on Mars and also visible with the naked eye?
I’m specifically interested in info or timetables for events that involve the Earth, Sun, or Mars’ moons, and events that happen Mars-daily or Mars-annually. So not comets and lunar "eclipses," but things like earthrise, earthset, sunrise, sunset, equinoxes, etc.
For instance, is there a timetable (or even better, a visual) that shows if/when earth would be visible or not visible on any given Mars-day, and when earthrise and earthset is for Martians in this area?
What about moonrise and moonset (timetables or charts) for Phobos and Deimos from this area?
What about events that involve Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn together in some way? My understanding is that those planets are visible with the naked eye from Mars.
I’m specifically interested in info or timetables for events that involve the Earth, Sun, or Mars’ moons, and events that happen Mars-daily or Mars-annually. So not comets and lunar "eclipses," but things like earthrise, earthset, sunrise, sunset, equinoxes, etc.
For instance, is there a timetable (or even better, a visual) that shows if/when earth would be visible or not visible on any given Mars-day, and when earthrise and earthset is for Martians in this area?
What about moonrise and moonset (timetables or charts) for Phobos and Deimos from this area?
What about events that involve Earth, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn together in some way? My understanding is that those planets are visible with the naked eye from Mars.
You can also convert from Earth dates to Mars Solar Longitude (L=0=Spring Equinox and L goes from 0 to 360) using this tool.
posted by vacapinta at 11:07 AM on September 27, 2022
posted by vacapinta at 11:07 AM on September 27, 2022
Best answer: Stellarium will do this
here is a portable version
https://portableapps.com/apps/education/stellarium_portable
You go to location, set it to mars (even precise lat/long), and maybe muck with the landscape (they have a marsscape!) and turn the atmosphere off so it doesn't look like earth.
Super easy and fun!
lots of tutorials online
timetables are available under 'celestial calculations' or something like that. visuals are the default
posted by Acari at 11:55 AM on September 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
here is a portable version
https://portableapps.com/apps/education/stellarium_portable
You go to location, set it to mars (even precise lat/long), and maybe muck with the landscape (they have a marsscape!) and turn the atmosphere off so it doesn't look like earth.
Super easy and fun!
lots of tutorials online
timetables are available under 'celestial calculations' or something like that. visuals are the default
posted by Acari at 11:55 AM on September 27, 2022 [1 favorite]
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For example, at the time I posted this from your location on Mars, it is still night time, the Sun will rise in a few hours and the Earth will rise a couple hours after that. The Earth will stay visible all day, setting a few hours after the Sun sets.
I don't know about Phobos and Deimos. They have orbital periods of hours and Phobos goes across the Martian sky a couple times a day.
posted by vacapinta at 10:56 AM on September 27, 2022 [1 favorite]