Red planet swings in for close-up view

By AINSLEY THOMSON

A "cosmic fluke" is bringing Mars closer to the Earth than it has been for 60,000 years, giving star-gazers a close-up view of the intriguing red planet.

Throughout this month Mars is on a close approach, reaching its nearest point of 55,758,000km from the Earth at the end of the month - about 21 million kilometres closer than usual.

It will be 284 years before the planet comes as close again.

Andrew Buckingham, from Auckland's StarDome Observatory, said the planet looked to the naked eye like a bright orange-red star, and was about three times brighter than usual. It can be seen in the east in evening skies.

Through a telescope, it will be seen in unusually good detail.

"It's the best year in your lifetime to look at Mars," said Mr Buckingham.

Mars' close approach has happened because Mars takes twice as long as Earth to orbit the sun so, every two years, Earth catches up to Mars and passes it, giving a close view of the planet.

This time, Mars' orbit of the Sun, which like Earth's is slightly elliptical, will bring it closer than usual to Earth's orbit.

The close-up will be seen around the world, but Mr Buckingham said the Southern Hemisphere would have a better view because of its clear skies and because Mars would be higher in the sky than in the Northern Hemisphere.