582. Mars

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In 2027, Mars and Earth will be closest together on February 20th. Mars will be at opposition (meaning the Earth is between Mars and the Sun) on February 19th, and the closest approach will occur the following day.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Opposition: Mars reaches opposition on February 19th, 2027.
Closest Approach: Mars will be closest to Earth on February 20th, 2027.
Distance: At this opposition, Mars will be at a distance of 63.01 million miles (101.41 million km) from Earth, which is the most distant opposition in the 21st century (2001 to 2100).
Apparent Size: As it approaches Earth, Mars will swell from a small apparent disk of 6" in October 14, 2026 to a maximum diameter on July 01, 2027, and then shrink as it moves away.



Mars will make its closest approach to Earth since 2022 on January 12, 2025, at 13:38 UTC (14:38 GMT), and will be at a distance of 0.642 astronomical units (59.70 million miles or 96.08 million kilometers).
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Date: January 12, 2025
Time: 13:38 UTC (14:38 GMT)
Distance: 0.642 astronomical units (59.70 million miles or 96.08 million kilometers)
Opposition: Mars will be at its annual opposition shortly after this closest approach.
Best Viewing Window: From January 12 to January 16, when Mars will be at its brightest and closest to Earth