2007-08-07 14:41:45 · 7 answers · asked by mdsmith47 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It was as at perihelic opposition and as close as 34.5 million miles away on August 27th 2003. It was next at opposition on October 30th 2005 (26 months later) and will be at opposition again on December 24th 2007. But the distance will be 55 million miles this year and it won't be as bright as it was in 2003 as a result (shining at -2.9 magnitude in 2003 but only -1.6 magnitude in 2007).
Mars being close to us in December facilitated the launch of the Phoenix probe 3 days ago (4th August) due to arrive and land on Mars in May 2008 and report on water and bacterial life on Mars when it gets there.
2007-08-07 15:56:45 · answer #1 · answered by Mint_Julip 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mars's closest approach to Earth this year is December 18th. The next one is late January, 2010. The August 27th date refers to the perihelic opposition of 2003.
2007-08-07 14:59:57 · answer #2 · answered by injanier 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The closest Mars ever gets to Earth is about 55 million km.
The point of Mars’ closest approach to the Earth is known as opposition, occuring about every 780 days. Because of the eccentricities of the orbits, the times of opposition and minimum distance can differ by up to 8.5 days.
The next Mars opposition will occur on December 24, 2007.
2007-08-07 14:55:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
This occurs when Mars is in opposition. The following is a catalog of Mars oppositions: http://seds.org/~spider//spider/Mars/marsopps.html .
2007-08-07 14:58:24 · answer #4 · answered by Ron 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This winter. About 38 million miles.
2007-08-07 16:20:09 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good question...planning a trip?
2007-08-07 14:49:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
august 27th
2007-08-07 14:53:55 · answer #7 · answered by jeanna 2 · 0⤊ 6⤋