MARS!

Starting tonight the planet Mars comes closest to Earth in recorded history!

The next time this event will occur will be in the year 2287.

This last time Mars was this close is estimated at 5,000 and 60,000 years ago. The large range of this estimate is due to perturbations in Mars’ orbit the planet Jupiter may have caused in the past.

This closeness event begins tonight and will last for the remainder of the month. The closest together Mars and Earth will be is 34,649,589 miles.

Next to the Moon, Mars will be the brightest object in the sky.