Mars made its closest approach to Earth on this day in 2003; Read more

Mars made one of its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years on this day, i.e. August 27, in 2003. According to NASA, back in 2003, Mars came closer to Earth and was within 56 million kilometres of our planet. ‘very closest approach’ was hailed as an ‘excellent opportunity’ for amateur astromers to see Red Planet. 

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Back n, NASA had informed that rare encounter was due to difference in Earth’s orbit compared with that of Mars. While our planet is on a very near-circular orbit around Sun, Mars sweeps out a large ellipse over its orbit. This resulted in Earth and Mars to approach within a range between 35 and 63 million miles. On August 27, 2003, Red Planet appeared slightly larger and brighter in nighttime sky. 

Moriba Jah, a NASA Scientist, had explained, “ orbits of planets are ellipses. y're t perfect circles. Gravitational effects from sun and planets pull on planets' orbits”. 

Jah added, “ very closest approach — most that you can get — is when both planets are lined up at time when Earth is at its farst point from sun and Mars is at its closest point”. 

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It is believed that t since Neanderthals lived, have Earth and Mars been quite as close as on August 27, 2003. Earth and Mars were exactly 55,758,006 km from centre to centre, which was nearest two planet have been in almost 60,000 years. According to NASA update, two planets are t expected to be this close until August 28, 2287. 

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Mars’ surface details revealed 

Meanwhile, with techlogy advancing every year, scientists have been studying Red Planet regularly. Recently, NASA’s InSight lander that started surface operations at Elysium Planitia on Mars has revealed Red planet’s surface details in seismograph data that it collected about 10 weeks after landing. Short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport captured intricate details and measurements of three subsurface boundaries from crust to core of celestial body, observed by Rice University seismologists, a statement confirmed.

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