UPDATE:
Earth set for Mars close encounter
Mars will make its closest approach to Earth for almost 60,000 years on Wednesday. Dr Robin Catchpole, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, explains how to witness the event.
Every 15 to 17 years, this happens when Mars is closest to the Sun.
On 27 August this year they will pass at a distance of 55,760,000 km or 0.3727 AU (1 AU is the distance of the Earth from the Sun), closer than any time during the last 60,000 years.
Once risen, it will be the brightest object in the sky, appearing orange red. From the latitude of the UK, it will never rise higher than 22 degrees and you will need an unobstructed view to the south to see it.
Mars will appear at its very best from the Southern Hemisphere, where by the middle of the night it will be high in the sky and its brightness and colour will make it very obvious.
Source: BBC News
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Sherilla Lay says:
August 27th.
Aug 11, 2005, 6:18 pmI want to see this huuuge Mars while lying on the beach, having Daiquiri and chatting with friends. I want to make plans for 2287 and where we are going to see the next amazingly big planet…
~FurSid says:
:) Don’t know from where we can see the 2287 appearance, though current location is UK.
Re-read the updated entry.
Aug 11, 2005, 1:42 am