NewDelhi: On the night of 31 July, Mars will be closest to the Earth in 15 years. The red planet will be just 35.8 million miles (57.6 million kilometers) apart on Tuesday. With Mars and the Sun on either sides and Earth in the middle, the three celestial bodies will be in a straight line on Tuesday.
In 2003, Mars and Earth were the closest in nearly 60,000 years – 34.6 million miles (55.7 million kilometers). NASA said that won’t happen again until 2287. The Mars will be closer to the Earth the next in 2020. It will be 38.6 million miles (62 million kilometers) apart then, according to NASA.
Mars which is already brighter than usual, will shine even more and will appear to be bigger on Tuesday. However, a massive dust storm engulfing the Red planet is obscuring the surface details which are normally visible through telescopes.
Part of NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory mission, Mars Curiosity on Tuesday tweeted: “I feel so close to you right now. Mars and Earth haven’t been this near since 2003, and won’t be again until 2035! Look to the south tonight to see the Red Planet shining bright.”
Leave a Reply