Where is Mars tonight?
Mars can look like a reddish-orange star, but it is not always bright. Its appearance changes greatly as the distance between Earth and Mars changes. Use the sky map to find its current direction first, then use color as a clue.
Live sky
Calculating the sky for your local date and place…
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Local time in the selected city.
The current-night answer appears after the sky calculation loads.
When and where to see Mars
Mars follows the broad band of sky traced by the Sun and Moon. It can be an evening, all-night or predawn target at different points in its orbit; its brightness also changes greatly. The live panel gives its direction, height and viewing hours for your selected place and night.
Mars or a red star?
Stars such as Aldebaran and Antares can also look orange or red. Check the object’s position against nearby stars on the map. Planets change their position among the stars over time; one quick look at color does not distinguish them reliably.
Mars often shines steadily, but turbulence can make it twinkle near the horizon. Give your eyes time to adjust, and compare direction and height rather than expecting a vivid red disc.
Why was Mars brighter on another night?
Earth and Mars move around the Sun at different speeds. When Earth passes between Mars and the Sun, an arrangement called opposition, Mars is generally especially noticeable and is up for much of the night. Farther from that part of its cycle it can be far less impressive.
A faint Mars is still Mars. Do not rule out the map’s position just because an old photograph or article showed a dazzling red object.
What can you see without a telescope?
A point of light, sometimes with a noticeable warm tint. Surface markings and polar caps are telescope targets; the map is for locating Mars, not predicting those details. It does not model clouds, haze, light pollution or buildings, so a position above the horizon does not guarantee a view.
Questions people ask
What direction do I look to see Mars?
Along the band of sky that the Sun and Moon follow. From the Northern Hemisphere that band lies mostly toward the south, and from the Southern Hemisphere toward the north. The exact direction and height depend on the date and time, so select Mars on the sky map.
Why does Mars look red?
Its surface is covered in rusty, iron-rich dust, and that dust gives the reflected sunlight a reddish-orange tint. To the eye the color is subtle, closer to orange than to red. It is a useful clue, but a color alone does not identify it.
Is Mars brighter than a star?
It can be. At its best, Mars outshines every star in the night sky; at its faintest, it looks like an ordinary moderately bright star. Its brightness swings widely over about two years, so judge it by position on the map, not by memory.
Is Mars visible every night?
Not always. For some weeks or months it is too close to the Sun in the sky to be seen. The rest of the time it rises or sets at different hours as the months pass. The map shows whether it is above the horizon for your place and time.
Explore other planets
Visibility changes with date and place. Use the live sky above for current details.
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Mercury
A small, steady point low in twilight after sunset or before sunrise.
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Venus
A brilliant pale point near the sunset or sunrise side of the sky.
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Jupiter
A bright, steady point along the path the Sun and Moon follow.
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Saturn
A steady yellowish point; its rings need a telescope.