Mars, at its shortest distance from the Earth in 15 years

CABO CAÑAVERAL, Florida, USA (AP) – It's now the best time to see Mars in the night sky

Next week, the red planet will be at its shortest distance from the Earth in 15 years.

The two planets will be only 57, 6 million kilometers (35.8 million miles) next Tuesday. And Friday, the planet will be in opposition, which means that Mars and the Sun will be exactly on opposite sides of the Earth. That same day, some parts of the world will see a lunar eclipse.

Mars already looks brighter than usual and will shine even more, and it will look bigger as Tuesday approaches. Astronomers expect a good view until early August

However, a huge dust storm that covers Mars at this time hides details of the surface that are normally visible with a telescope. The Martian atmosphere is so full of dust that NASA's Opportunity probe can not be recharged because the sunlight reaching the surface is insufficient, so there has been no communication with Opportunity since June 10th. Mission controllers do not expect to re-establish contact until the storm calms down, perhaps later.

The good thing is that all Martian dust reflects sunlight, making the planet even more red. Widener University, Harry Augensen

"It's beautiful, brilliant tran like light landing from an airplane," he said. "Not as bright as Venus, but because of the reddish-orange hue, it's easy to see it in the sky."

In 2003, Earth and Mars were at their shortest distance in nearly 60,000 years: 55.7 million kilometers (34.6 million miles). NASA says it will not happen again until 2287. The next approach in 2020 will be 62 million kilometers (38.8 million miles).

Observatories across the United States will hold events to watch the planet next week. On Tuesday, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles will provide live video on the Internet.

The total lunar eclipse on Friday will be visible in Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. The phenomenon will last one hour and 43 minutes.