Mars Is At Its Closest to Earth Since 2003 Today! It Won't Be Closer Until 2287

Space.com | ^ | July 31, 2018 11:54am ET | Chelsea Gohd,

[BenLurkin]

Early this morning, Mars made its closest approach to Earth since 2003 — but if you missed it, the Red Planet is still a magnificent sight to see in the night sky. Humanity will have to wait 269 years for Mars to get much closer, NASA says.

At 3:50 a.m. EDT (0750 GMT), Mars reached the closest point to Earth in its orbit. The Red Planet hadn't been that close to Earth since August 2003. (And when this last approach occurred, it was the first time in 60,000 years that Mars had come so close.) This occurrence follows last week's Mars event: On Friday (July 27), the Red Planet reached opposition with the sun and remained at its brightest in the night sky through Monday night and early today (July 31)

…

You can see Mars tonight by looking to the southwestern sky. Weather permitting, Mars will be visible low on the southwestern horizon, with the moon shining to the upper left. Saturn will also be visible, as shown in the map below. {at link}

[central_va]

Man, I always liked her!

[Aquamarine]

Wasn't it a Pluto sized body that got too close one time and created the Vastitas Borealis ?

[House Atreides]

MARS ATTACKS!

[pas]

It will be cloudy tonight. I will just wait until 2287.

[central_va]

I feel like I should do something. Like I am missing out.

[Red Badger]

I was watching Mars last evening and it is bright reddish Orange!............

[central_va]

[laweeks]

I’LL WAIT

[b4its2late]

LOL!

[shotgun]

ACK! ACK ACK...

[Paladin2]

Can we see the American Flag again?

[Yo-Yo]

[Kommodor]

It’s okay, it’s only -supposed- to be an earth shattering kaboom.

[WKUHilltopper]

OK...and?

[HamiltonJay]

So for us Astronomy ignoramuses what part of the night sky should we be scanning and what time should we be scanning it in hopes to catch this thing from north america?

[Windflier]

That’s Valles Marineris.

Much evidence exists, that points to it having been created by ‘electrical machining.’ Scientists and researchers have created identical features in the lab, using that method.

A large body coming close to Mars, would have likely caused both planets to trade massive electrical discharges, causing major scaring, such as what we see today.

[DannyTN]

[DannyTN]

[x]

It Won't Be Closer Until 2287

Big Deal.

That's like next Thursday for Ray Kurzweil.

[familyop]

Still can’t hit any Martians from here. ;-)