Planet guide

Mars Tonight: How to Find the Red Planet

Mars can appear orange-red, but its brightness changes dramatically depending on where Earth and Mars are in their orbits.

Quick facts

Use these cues first, then confirm the pattern in the AR viewer.

Warm orange or reddish compared with most bright stars.

Bright near opposition and much dimmer at other times.

Compare Mars with nearby constellations because its position shifts over weeks.

Mars often has a warm orange tint. It can be obvious near opposition and much fainter at other times.

Mars is best when it is near opposition, when Earth passes between Mars and the Sun.

If several bright objects are visible, AR helps compare Mars with nearby stars and planets so you can identify the correct object.

Short answers for common skywatching questions before opening the AR viewer.

Mars changes distance from Earth significantly, so its apparent brightness varies more than Jupiter or Venus.

Yes. To the eye it is a point of light, but its warm color and changing position help identify it.

Use these pages to move from reading into the AR viewer with better context.

Learn how date, time, and location shape the sky above you.

Check planets, the Moon, and bright objects before opening AR.

Understand camera, orientation, and compass alignment in the viewer.

Use the browser sky map to compare Mars with the real sky from your location.