>MARK AUGUST 27th ON YOUR CALDENDAR
Additional information (I just checked
Das Himmelsjahr): Mars is in opposition on 28.Aug., but the closest approach is on 27.Aug. The different dates are due to the fact that the Earth's orbit, but especially Mars' orbit, are not exactly circular. Sometimes, there can be over a weak difference between the opposition and the closest approach.
Reminder: The term "opposition" is used when an outer planet (like Mars) is opposite to the sun, in the sky.
This year's opposition is at a distance of 55.8 million km., brightness -2.9m.
The next opposition (after this year) is on 7.nov.2005; distance 69.4 million km., brightness -2.3m.
The next
close opposition is on 27.jul.2018, distance 57.6 million km., brightness -2.8m. Note that a difference of 0.1m (between 2003 and 2018) should hardly be noticeable.
Greetings,
Hilmar.
Difference in opinions hath cost many millions of lives: for instance, whether flesh be bread, or bread be flesh; whether whistling be a vice or a virtue; whether it be better to kiss a post, or throw it into the fire... (from Gulliver's Travels)
