Mars is closest the to earth, 38.6 million miles on October 6th. But tonight the magnitude of the planet is at its peak due to phase and perihelion, the brightest since 2003. Mars made the closest approach to earth in almost 60,000 years, with a separation of just under 35 million miles. Mars will not be this close to our planet until the year 2035. You can see the planet Mars in the constellation Pisces tonight at magnitude of -2.62, making it way brighter than the brightest star in the sky Sirius, which is only -1.46. The The closeness has to do with the unique timing of the recent launch of the Alliance Atlas V rocket at Florida’s Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 7/30/20 at 6:50 am CST. A 2,315-lb. rover is the centerpiece of NASA’s $2.7 billion Mars mission. God Bless America!

Pixabay at Pexels

MARS IS CLOSE!