Too bad there’s no champagne on Mars. Nov. 12 is the day to pop open a bottle to toast the new year on the red planet. Mars fans on Earth can still break out into “Auld Lang Syne” to mark the occasion. It won’t roll around again until late 2026.
Days and years on Mars are longer than on Earth. The red planet orbits at a greater distance from the sun than our blue marble. One Martian day is equivalent to 24 hours and 29 minutes on Earth. A day on Mars is known as a “sol.” One Martian year takes 668 sols, which works out to 687 Earth days. That’s why the next red planet new year won’t happen until Sept. 30, 2026.
Today marks the kickoff for the 38th Martian year. That might seem like a low number. “The convention for counting years in the Martian calendar started in 1955, with the first year coinciding with a major storm named ‘the great dust storm of 1956,’” the European Space Agency said in statement. Numbering the years gives scientists a common point of reference that predates the first successful Mars flyby mission—NASA’s Mariner 4 in 1965. Since then, humanity has sent a succession of spacecraft and rovers to visit the planet.
Mars years may be longer, but the planet still has four seasons just like Earth. The new year coincides with the start of the northern equinox. That means it’s springtime in the north and autumn in the south. “Unlike Earth’s seasons, Martian seasons are not of equal lengths due to Mars’ more elliptical orbit,” ESA said.
Understanding the red planet’s seasons is especially important for space agencies operating rovers and landers on Mars. Those robotic explorers have to contend with harsh conditions, including frigid temperatures and dust. “The second half of the Martian year is often marked by fierce dust storms that can sometimes become planet-wide,” ESA said. “As Mars swings closer to the sun, the atmosphere heats up, causing winds to lift up very fine particles from the Martian soil.” Dust was responsible for bringing NASA’s solar-powered Opportunity mission to an end when a global dust storm in 2018 choked out the rover’s power.
A new year on Mars is a good time to feel optimistic and look ahead to humanity’s continued engagement with the fascinating planet. NASA currently has two rovers investigating Mars from the ground. The Perseverance rover discovered a rock this year that could potentially shine a light on the possibility of ancient microbial life on Mars. Meanwhile, the Curiosity rover turned up a surprising find of pure sulfur crystals. Both rovers are going strong, so we can look forward to more discoveries in the new year as the wheeled explorers continue their adventures.
ESA’s Mars teams made New Year’s resolutions. The Trace Gas Orbiter team is hopeful the spacecraft will remain healthy and that it will continue to gather valuable atmospheric data and capture beautiful images. The team behind the not-yet-launched ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission aims to work on a new lander and complete a spacecraft flight model. “Here’s to making the next 687 Earth days filled with discovery, unity and an enduring passion for exploration,” said Mars exploration group leader Orson Sutherland.
Humanity has its heart set on sending people to the red planet someday. Future visitors or colonists may have the opportunity to celebrate New Year’s on Mars. Fortunately, champagne maker Mumm developed a bubbly designed for space travel. An aeronautical-grade aluminum shell protects the glass bottle. That champagne toast to the start of a new year on Mars might happen on the planet’s surface after all.
