Mars getting closer to Earth in 15 years

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) – It's now time to catch Mars in the night sky

Next week, the Red Planet is making its closest approach to the Earth in 15 years old. [19659003Thetwoplanetswilllastfrom578millionkilometersnextTuesdaytoFridayMarchintheoppositionMelignifythatMarsandtheywillcontactofopposedoppositesoftheEarthEverywhereofthepartiesofthesummitwillexcludeatotalairunitale

March is already brighter than usual and will shine even more – and will appear larger – as Tuesday approaches. Astronomers are waiting for a good viewing until the beginning of the month of August.

A huge dust storm currently engulfing Mars masks surface details normally visible with telescopes. The Martian atmosphere is so full of dust that NASA's rover Opportunity can not recharge – not enough sunlight can reach its solar panels – and so it's quiet since June 10th. Controllers do not expect to hear about Opportunity until the storm calms down, and maybe not even then.

The good news of all Martian dust is that it reflects sunlight, which makes the red planet even brighter, says the Widener University astronomer. It's as bright as an airplane landing, "said Augensen." Not quite as bright as Venus, but still because of the reddish, orange-red color you can not really miss it in the sky. "

In 2003, Mars and Earth were the closest in nearly 60,000 years – 34.6 million miles (55.7 million kilometers). that this will not happen again until 2287. The next approach, meanwhile, in 2020, will be 38.6 million miles (62 million kilometers), according to NASA.

Observatories across the United States the week The Los Angeles Griffith Observatory will provide a live online view of March 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, the Earth and the Moon align perfectly, projecting the Earth's shadow. On the Moon Friday will be long, one hour and 43 minutes.