Question

6.) Using Stellarium, answer the following questions: Place yourself at 4 degrees, 30 minutes south latitude and 71 degrees west longitude on Mars. It is New Years Eve in 2069, about to become 2070. You have taken your family on an excursion to Mars. i.) As you look out at Sun rising on this day, how many planets are visible in the sky? Name them. ii.) What is the phase of Earth as seen from Mars on this date? iii.) What is the phase of Moon as seen from Mars on this date? iv.) Are the late 2060's a good time to observe the rings of Saturn? Why or why not?

Answer 1

i) Four planets are visible. Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, and Earth.

ii) Phase of the Earth is 0.11 from Mars.

iii) Phase of the Moon is also 0.11 as seen from Mars.

iv) Around the late 2060s saturn's rings are coplaner to the line of sight so it appears as a line, however around 2068 this situation changes and the ring tilts, but jupiter becomes small as apparant distance between these two planets change. So Late 2060s is not an Ideal time to observe its rings.

(August 2062 is the ideal time for both proximity and tilt, for viewing its rings)