|
|
Article: Mars, Earth closest since '70s
- Article from:
- Sunday Gazette-Mail
- Article date:
- June 3, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 2001 Sunday Gazette-Mail. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
ORLANDO, Fla. - Mars usually appears as an unimpressive orange
dot at the end of Laurent Pellerin's telescope, but when Mars gets
unusually close to Earth in this month, the view could feature a
rusty-red ball with glittering ice caps, swirling dust storms and
specks of clouds.
Earth and Mars are making a cyclical swing in June that will
carry them within about 40.5 million miles of each other. They
haven't been that close since the 1970s.
It's kind of a warm-up for an even closer pass that will bring
the pair within 34.7 million miles of each other in August 2003.
For backyard and professional astronomers alike, the events are
eye candy to be devoured.
"I remember during the last close ...