From Mara to the Mars

On the shore of popular Slovakian lake Liptovska Mara, two wanderers enjoy the view to the Universe. Like a gate behind them, the Milky Way arches in the sky while both of the viewers are so interested in something else there – the bright reddish dot. It is planet Mars, reflected on the surface of the lake’s turquoise water. The “Red planet” made its closest approach to the Earth this year, precisely on July 31, 2018, for 57.6 million km. Even if it was not the closest in the century (that happened in August 2003 and will not happen until August 2287), the “martian” planet was truly impresive in the night sky. For a weeks around its opposition on 27 July it took the fourth place among the brightest celestial object: just the Sun, the Moon and planet Venus are brighter. Next time we will enjoy planet Mars as bright as this year comes in the end of summer 2035. Used Canon 6D modified, Samyang 24 mm, f2.8, ISO 8000, 57x15s single exposures stitched to panorama, captured from tripod on 13 October 2018.