Article: Mars at closest proximity to earth in nearly 60,000 years

LaShaunna Watkins
University Wire
08-26-2003
(Northern Star) (U-WIRE) DEKALB, Ill. -- Mars is the closest it has been to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, said Andrew Morrison, a Northern Illinois graduate student in physics and the Davis Hall observatory manager.

Mars is visible by looking into to the southeast sky after sundown.

The explanation for the phenomenon is that Mars is in opposition to the sun, relative to Earth. Theoretically, this means that a straight line would pass through Mars, Earth and the sun.

Morrison said Martian opposition takes place every 25 months, but none will compare to this one. On the last opposition, Mars appeared to be 25 percent smaller than it does now.

Jay ...

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