Opposition

On August 28, 2003 a Mars opposition occured. The Sun, Earth and Mars were located in this exact sequence. Seen from the Earth Mars appeared opposite the Sun. It rose in the East sky when the Sun set in the West, it reached its maximum at midnight in the South and set when the Sun rose. Thus, Mars could be observed the whole night. Mars oppositions occur at an interval of two years and 50 days. However, the Mars orbit is not a circle but an ellipse. As a consequence the minimal distance between Earth and Mars varies substantially. In 2003 a particularly favorable opposition occured. Therefore, the weeks surrounding the opposition date provided very good observation conditions.
 

The Mars Oppositions from 1997 until 2010
 
The minimal distance during an opposition varies between 55.6 million and 101 million kilometres. Depending upon the fact if the planet is located at its closest point to the Sun (Perihel) or at its furthest point from the Sun (Aphel) the oppositions are called Perihelic and Aphelic oppositions respectively. Perihelic oppositions occur approximately every 16 years. But not all Perihelic oppositions are similarly favorably. Only when the date of the opposition and the date of the Perihel are close to each other will the distance Mars-Earth be especially small.

During the Perihelic opposition of 2003 Mars approached the Earth at a distance of 55.76 million kilometres. Mars did not come that close to the Earth in 59,000 years. And, it will not be until the year 2287 that The Red Planet approaches the Earth even closer. Then its distance will amount to 55.69 million kilometres.

Those who missed the Mars opposition of 2003 can look forward to November 2005, when Mars approaches the Earth at a distance of 69 million kilometres.

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