Here's the breakdown:

* Sunlight: The Sun is the primary source of light in our solar system.

* Reflection: Mars, like all planets, does not produce its own light. Instead, it reflects sunlight that falls upon its surface.

* Visibility: When Mars is in a position where sunlight reflects towards Earth, we can see it as a bright point of light in the night sky.

* Orbit: The positions of Mars and Earth in their orbits around the Sun determine when and how brightly Mars appears in our sky.

Therefore, Mars' visibility is a combination of sunlight, reflection, and the relative positions of the two planets.