Mars making closest approach to Earth in 15 years

CAPE CANAVERAL: Now is the time to catch Mars in the night sky.

Next week, the red planet will be making its closest approach to Earth in 15 years. The two planets will be just 57.6 million km apart next Tuesday. And on Friday, Mars will be in opposition.

That means Mars and the sun will be on exact opposite sides of Earth. That same day, parts of the world will see a total lunar eclipse.

Mars is already brighter than usual and will shine even more – and appear bigger – as Tuesday nears. Astronomers expect good viewing through early August.

But a huge dust storm presently engulfing Mars is obscuring surface details normally visible through telescopes.

The Martian atmosphere is so full of dust that Nasa’s Opportunity rover can’t recharge – not enough sunlight can reach its solar panels – and so it has been silent since June 10.

Flight controllers don’t expect to hear from 14-year-old Opportunity until the storm subsides.

The good news about all the Martian dust is that it reflects sunlight, making for an even brighter red planet, said Widener University astronomer Harry Augensen.

“It’s magnificent. It’s as bright as an airplane landing light,” he said.

“Not quite as bright as Venus, but still because of the reddish, orangeish-red color, you really can’t miss it in the sky.”

In 2003, Mars and Earth were the closest in nearly 60,000 years – 55.7 million km. Nasa said that will not happen again until 2287.

The next close approach, mean- while, in 2020, will be 62 million km, according to Nasa.

Observatories across the United States are hosting Mars-viewing events next week. Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory will provide a live online view of Mars early Tuesday.

The total lunar eclipse on Friday will be visible in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon line up perfectly, casting Earth’s shadow on the moon. Friday’s will be long, lasting one hour and 43 minutes.