Opposition

This is probably the most significant planetary alignment. When a planet is in opposition to the Sun, it is closest to the Earth and easiest to observe. In this situation, Earth is in the middle and the planet and the Sun are on opposite sides, get it?

Observers of Mars wait patiently for oppositions of the Red Planet which occur every two years or so. When at opposition, Mars is about five times closer to us than when it is in conjunction with the Sun.

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