When was planet Mars last very close to planet Earth? and when is Mars next due to be very close to Earth?

Answer 1

Actually oppositions come about every 26 months, as you can see by the 26 month difference in the two dates in the first answer. But not all oppositions are equally close. About one in every 7 or 8 is closer than usual due to Mars' orbit being much more elliptical than Earth's orbit. The last really close one was August 27, 2003 at 35 million miles and the next really close one will be July 27, 2018 at 36 million miles. The December 2007 opposition will be 55 million miles, which is about an average opposition. When not at opposition Mars is usually between 100 million and 200 million miles away.

Answer 2

Last: October 28, 2005
Next: December 19, 2007

Answer 3

mars was visible a couple of months ago too the naked eye for about 6 weeks. it will not be as close for over a 100 yrs, we aint goin to see it!

Answer 4

Oppostions, and hence close approaches, of Mars to Earth occur roughly every 26 months, due to the planet's respective orbital geometries. The above answers for close approach are correct.

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Thanks for the correction:):):). My brain feels dead at present:P

What was I thinking of every 18 months??? Ah....syzygy!!!.

Stupid me:):)

Yeah, the August 2003 approach was the closest we've seen the planet in about 60000 years or so.