MCQ Detailed View

Mars, known as the Red Planet, often appears near different stars and constellations as it moves along its orbital path. One such notable appearance is when Mars is seen skimming south of the bright star Pollux, which is part of the Gemini constellation.

Gemini is a well-known zodiac constellation in the night sky, and it has two bright stars: Castor and Pollux. These two stars represent the twin brothers from Greek mythology. Among them, Pollux is the brighter and more reddish in appearance. When Mars is visible near Gemini, it can often pass close to Pollux due to the alignment of its orbit with the ecliptic—the apparent path of the Sun and planets across the sky.

Pollux is a red giant star and lies about 34 light-years from Earth. Because of its color and brightness, it’s easier to spot with the naked eye. When Mars passes near Pollux, their reddish glow may appear similar in hue but differ in brightness and sharpness—Mars shines more steadily, while Pollux twinkles due to atmospheric effects.

The other options listed do not belong to Gemini or are not relevant here. Castor is also in Gemini but not the correct star for this particular alignment. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky but is part of the constellation Canis Major. Betelgeuse is a red supergiant in the constellation Orion.

Observing Mars and its position relative to constellations helps astronomers and sky watchers understand planetary motion, orbits, and celestial navigation. Events like Mars passing near Pollux are significant for both astronomy enthusiasts and educational learning about our solar system.