The reason Mars and the moon are meeting is due to Earth preparing to make its way between the Red Planet and the sun on October 13. That is the day mars comes closest to earth and shines brighter! "It has a year nearly twice as long as ours. The closest possible encounter is when Earth is that the furthest off from the Sun (aphelion) and Mars is that the closest to the Sun (perihelion). This and the coming week, from October 6th till October 13th, Mars will be 38.6 million miles (or 62.1 million kilometers) away from Earth, the two planets closest approach in 15 years. This year, Mars opposition occurs on Oct. 13, 2020. October 6th being the closest, so close to each other than we’ve seen in 20 years. At this time, the Earth is approximately 62.07 million kilometers away from Mars. Earth’s farthest point from the Sun comes yearly, in early July. Mars is currently north of the celestial equator, Mars won’t beat its 2020 achievement until September 2035, fifteen years from now. The red planet makes its closest approach to Earth on October 7 in Australia. As you can see in this video below, Mars and Earth are both in slightly elliptical orbits, which means they can sometimes be very close to each other. By August 21, 2018, it was farther away than it is now, in October 2020. Credit: NASA/Scott Sutherland For instance, every 15 or 17 years, an opposition will occur within a few weeks of Mars’ perihelion. "Mars was at its closest to the Sun on March 3, 2020. "Stargazing is highly recommended as Mars will be bright, big and easy to see." Every 15 to 17 years, Mars opposition falls within a few weeks of the Red Planet's closest orbit of the Sun - its perihelion. Let us now Have a Look at the chart of the 4th Oct 2020 when it falls back in the sign Pisces and is closest to Earth on the 6th Oct. 2020 Mars Closest to Earth in the 7th from Sun and Degree aspect of Mars on the Sun on the 14th Oct. 2020 ... also coincides with when Mars and Earth come closest in their orbits, making the Red Planet incredibly bright in … At -2.5 magnitude and 22.6″ in diameter, Mars is a conspicuous, intense orange target in the sky that is brighter than any star, except our Sun and is only outshone by Venus … There were 3. It all started on August 9 when the Moon eclipsed the planet - a lunar occultation. Bottom:An image of Mars taken by Jim Powell on the morning of July 15, 2018. NASA says the phenomenon lines up with what they call “opposition,” which happens every two years. NASA said that won’t happen again until 2287. An opposition can occur anywhere along Mars' orbit. Earth swings between Mars and the sun every other year, at progressively later dates. Mars will be 62,099,460 kilometres away from Earth - yes, that’s close for Mars - and it won’t be this close again until 2035. SEE IT: Mars Is The Closest To Earth Than It Will Be For Next 15 Years The distance between Earth and Mars will be 38.6 million miles. During October 2020, Mars appears as a very bright star in the eastern evening sky and western morning sky. By Ray Petelin October 6, 2020 at 7:45 pm This month marks an exciting time for stargazers. This huge gap between the two dates … During closest approach in 2020 the apparent diameter of Mars will be 1.7 arcsec smaller than it was at the same period in 2018; however, it will be 31 degrees higher in the sky – good for observing the Red Planet for observers in the northern and southern hemispheres of Earth. When it happens while the red planet is closest to the sun (called "perihelic opposition"), Mars is particularly close to Earth. Close approaches, far points, and orbital information for Elon Musk's cherry red Tesla Roadster and Starman. Its closest approach to Earth that year will be October 6. 7 days before opposition day. In 2020, Mars passed perihelion on August 3rd, and Mars is closest to the Earth at 62 million kilometers distant on October 6th. Do not miss it! Mars will shine especially bright in the sky tonight as the Red Planet makes its closest approach to Earth in 17 years. Earth will next lap Mars on October 13, 2020. The moon passes the planet twice, October 2 and October 29. by Jeffrey L. Hunt. Mars will reach opposition on Oct. 13, 2020, when the Red Planet will be only 39 million miles (62.7 million km) from Earth — the closest pairing until 2035. Since the size and brightness of Mars in the night sky both increase when it is close to us, the days around its perigee represent the best time to observe it. Mars will be visible skyward on Oct. 6, but the best time to see Mars will be midnight, according to NASA. This is the closest the Red Planet will come to Earth for the next 15 years, or until September 2035. July 30, 2020 5:36 PM . Mars reaches a state of convergence and the closest distance to the Earth in the second half of October 2020, and it is rumored that the planet will appear to the observer with the naked eye as large as the full moon in the Earth’s sky and that the scene will be beautiful and that we will see it for the first time in our life. In 2003, Mars and Earth were the closest in nearly 60,000 years — 34.6 million miles. Get ready to see the Red Planet up close this week: Mars reaches opposition with the sun on Oct. 13, 2020, offering the closest view of the planet until 2035. It should also be noted that closest approach between Earth … Because of this, Mars and Earth become closest to each other only over the long-term. ... (a point in the planet’s orbit that is closest to the Earth). Mars's orbit around the Sun will carry it to its closest point to the Earth – its perigee – passing within 0.41 AU of us.. Mars comes closest to earth on October 6, 2020 and the red Planet will not be so close in the next 15 years! The second half of 2020 is all about the grand show of Mars. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Mars will soon appear brighter than normal, making its closest approach to Earth within its orbit — and the Red Planet won’t come this close again until 2022. This year, Mars will be at perigee on October 6 and at opposition on October 14. At the perihelic opposition of July 27th 2018 (= 304°), closest approach to Earth took place on July 31st, just 4 days later. Mars will be 38,586,816 miles away from Earth --- yes, that's close for Mars -- and it won't be this close again until 2035. In the year 2018, both the planet came comparatively closer to each other at a distance … At its furthest, Mars reaches about 250 million miles (400 million km) from Earth. This will be our closest to Mars within 15 years, or before September 2035. Mars was just 57.6 million km from Earth on July 31, 2018, the closest since 2003. If you miss the show Tuesday, don't worry: Mars will look quite bright in the sky throughout the month. 7 Oct, 2020 10:24 PM 2 minutes to read. In 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years, coming within a distance of 55.76 million kilometres. The planet begins to make its 2020 close approach to Earth on Oct. 6. Mars to the left of the moon in the New York City sky on Oct. 1, 2020. Conversely, when Mars reaches opposition on December 8th 2022, at an orbital position nearly opposite its 2016 point, closest approach takes place on December 1st, i.e. Mars is closest to Earth on October 6, and at opposition a week later. At 10 pm on October 6, Beijing time, the earth will move to the location closest to Mars. The day we’re closest to Mars is October 6, so go for it. Because the Sun, Earth, and Mars are lined up during this passing, Mars will rise at sunset, having a high overhead at midnight. The closest possible encounter occurs when Earth is furthest from the Sun (aphelia) and Mars is closest to the Sun (perihelion). Mars and Earth come close to each other around every two years. We’ve reached the peak of the current Mars observing season with the planet closest to Earth:62-million km or 38.5-million miles on October 6/7th. Meanwhile, the closest proximity of Earth and Mars at a distance of 54.6 million kilometres will perhaps be possible when Earth remains far away from Sun, called Aphelion, and Mars remains nearest to the Sun, called Perihelion. The conjunction starts at 11:35pm ET on Friday, October 2, with the closest approach seen shortly after midnight. On October 6, 2020, the Earth will pass by Mars. If the weathers are permitting, you should be getting the closest view of the Mars tonight, the 6th Oct 2020. At this time the 2 would be at the minimum 54.6 million kilometres (33.9 million miles) apart. In 2003, Mars made its closest approach to Earth around opposition in nearly 60,000 years - a separation of just 56 million km. This is the closest distance to Mars until 2035. Mars makes its closest approach to Earth at 10:18 am ET on October 6. Astrophiles day when Mars is the nearest, called closest approach, gets the most attention.