Your friend tells you that last night, they saw Mars high in the sky at midnight. You conclude that
A)Mars must be at its farthest distance from the Earth.
B)Mars must be in retrograde.
C)Your friend must be mistaken: Mars can never be seen at midnight.
D)Mars must be at its closest distance from the Sun.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

If Mars is high in the sky at midnight, it must be opposite the Sun in the sky. This means that it is in retrograde, as it appears to be moving backward in the sky relative to the stars. Mars can be seen at midnight, depending on its position in its orbit around the Sun. Its distance from the Earth and the Sun is not relevant to its visibility at midnight.

Your Friend Tells You That Last Night, They Saw Mars