2026 May 3

Mars Opposition Blog 2026 May 3rd

Welcome to the 2026-27 BAA Mars blog. We shall be covering the observational work of our members right up to and beyond the date of the next opposition, 2027 February 19. I will try to write regular updates, and in later months there will be the usual note appearing in the Journal about martian seasonal dates during 2026-27, and a description of what can be expected to be visible at different parts of the martian year. Meanwhile, the southern hemisphere summer solstice occurred on 2026 April 25, and southern autumnal equinox will follow on September 30.

Observations have begun quite early once again, thanks to Clyde Foster of Namibia. His current images are shown here. They show the large and rapidly shrinking S. polar cap in late southern spring and early summer, and normal albedo markings. Note the intense darkness of Syrtis Minor, preceding Syrtis Major, and the absence or faintness of Pandorae Fretum in the first one. There is an absence of obvious dust activity in these early images, but we must emphasise that the apparent diameter of Mars is barely larger than 4” at the present time. Conditions have only recently allowed synthetic colour images, but the better seeing found in the near-infrared had allowed decent imaging in that waveband.

The Director is now busily writing the 2022 final apparition report, in continuation of 2020. All past reports can be accessed from the link on the front page of the Mars Section website. Meanwhile, blogs for 2022 and 2025 are still to be found on the website.

At this early stage, every single observation will count in maintaining our global coverage of the Red Planet. If you can help, please send in your data as soon as possible.