Observation Summary:
Hello Everyone. My name is Rishabh Sagar. I captured an exceptionally rare planetary-stellar appulse on 22 May 2025 from New Delhi, India. Mars made a close pass to the deep-sky star TYC 1402-56-1 with an angular separation of approximately 27 arcseconds—potentially one of the tightest Mars-star approaches ever documented.
Target Star Details:
- Name: TYC 1402-56-1
- Magnitude: ~10.3 (requires optical aid)
- Spectral Type: Yellowish-white
- Distance: ~1,210 light-years
- Gaia Catalog ID: 631886381840733056
Equipment & Observing Conditions:
- Scope: Helix 130650 Newtonian Reflector (130mm aperture, f/5)
- Eyepiece: TMB Planetary 4mm (~162x magnification)
- Mount: EQ Manual Mount
- Method: Eyepiece projection imaging
- Date/Time: 22 May 2025, 7:00–9:00 PM IST
- Location: New Delhi, India
Image Processing:
- Adobe Lightroom (color correction, contrast enhancement)
- Single-shot capture of live appulse—no stacking or compositing
- Angular measurement verified independently using Stellarium and Gaia DR3 reference catalog
- Precise alignment confirmed via Star Catalog cross-reference
Why This Event Is Remarkable:
| Event | Date | Separation | Objects | Magnitude | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mars–TYC 1402-56-1 | 22 May 2025 | 27″ | Mars + TYC 1402-56-1 | Mars / 10.3 | Deep-sky star, ultra-rare, ALPO archived |
| Venus–Jupiter Conjunction | Aug 2023 | ~28′ (1,680″) | Venus + Jupiter | -4.3 / -2.9 | Bright, naked-eye, highly visible |
| Venus–Regulus | Oct 2015 | 60″ | Venus + Regulus | -4.1 / 1.3 | Bright, visible naked-eye |
| Jupiter–Aldebaran | Apr 2024 | 300″ | Jupiter + Aldebaran | -2.9 / 0.8 | Common pairing |
| Saturn–Spica | 2009 | 40″ | Saturn + Spica | 0.8 / 1.0 | Rare, broader separation |
Key Distinctions: ✓ Ultra-tight 27″ angular proximity (extremely close)
✓ Deep-sky star (invisible to naked eye—requires telescopic observation)
✓ No historical precedent in accessible databases
✓ Officially archived by ALPO Mars Section (2024–25 Apparition)
Archival Status:
Submitted to ALPO Mars Section.- Acknowledged in 2024–25 Apparition Observer List.
- Archived in ALPO Mars Section Archive.
- Verified by ALPO Research Team (USA).
This alignment represents a truly once-in-a-lifetime observing opportunity. The visual pairing of a red planet with a distant yellow-white star at such extreme proximity makes this an exceptionally rare documented event.
Observing logs, comments, and questions welcome!
Rishabh Sagar
Amateur Astronomer | NASA Citizen Scientist
New Delhi, India