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Mars is coming closer to Earth than it has done for 15 years and we're about to get a great view

Photo credit: Getty Images
Photo credit: Getty Images

From Country Living

Sky watchers are in for a treat this summer as Mars is about to become closer to Earth than it has done for 15 years.

The Mars Close Approach, which happens around every 26 months when the Red Planet and Earth are nearest to each other in their orbits around the sun, will be even closer this year. It will peak on 31 July after a bright lead up from the 27th.

Those who look up will notice a bright orange-red 'star' shining with a steady light.

According to NASA, the planet will be just 35.8 million miles from Earth during the Close Approach and will reach its highest point around midnight but will be visible for much of the night.

Photo credit: Denis Scott - Getty Images
Photo credit: Denis Scott - Getty Images

Mars comes close enough for exceptional viewing only once or twice every 15 or 17 years. The minimum distance from Earth to Mars is 33.9 million miles, but this doesn’t happen very often.

This year so far, the Red Planet has only been visible to early risers but has not been exceptionally bright, Space.com reports.

However, July’s spectacle will bring Mars the closest to Earth since 2003 when the planets were just 34.8 million miles apart - the closest approach in nearly 60,000 years.

By mid-August, it will become fainter as Mars and Earth travel farther away from each other in orbits around the sun.

Those who miss this year’s Mars Close Approach will have to wait until 6 August 2020 for the next display, when the planet will be 38.6 million miles from Earth.

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