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How beautiful: Mars closest to earth on July 30-31

     Written by : SMTV24x7 | Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 05:36 PM

How beautiful: Mars closest to earth on July 30-31

New Delhi, July 31: Planet Mars will be at its closest distance to Earth in 15 years tonight. The event known as "Mars Close Approach" represents the point in the red planet's orbit at which it comes closest to Earth.

With Mars and Sun on each side, the rare event will witness all three celestial bodies falling in a straight line. This will also be the closest the red planet comes to Earth until October 2020.

Back in 2003, Earth and Mars were "only" 56 million kilometers apart- the closest it came in over 60,000 years and according to NASA estimates it will not happen again till 2287.

July has been rather eventful for the skywatchers; first, a partial solar eclipse on July 13, then a lunar eclipse on July 27 and now Mars coming the closest it has to earth in 15 years on July 31.

Mars will be 57.6 million kilometers from Earth on Tuesday, hitting its highest point in the sky at about midnight - approximately 35 degrees over the southern horizon, according to Nasa.



Where is the best place to view this phenomenon?

While the best location to observe the phenomenon is in the southern hemisphere, the red planet will be visible from most parts in India, although not as clearly as it would be from South Africa, Australia or South American countries.

A high-powered telescope with a large lens (15cm to 20cm in size) is recommended, but even then clouds may obstruct the view.

However, for all the space enthusiasts out there, you can still witness the phenomenon in all its glory as Nasa’s Griffith Observatory is hosting a live stream on YouTube.

We may never see the red planet so near for another 269 years.