For Mars, look East in the late evening like 10:30. You cant miss it, Mars is spectacular right now. It will be rising earlier as it gets closer to the Aug 27 date.
It's only a fraction of a percent closer than it usually gets once every 16 years, so no... doesn't affect the earth except to give something neat to look at in the sky.
skyandtelescope
Quote:
|
Mars becomes almost this large every 15 or 17 years — whenever it passes closest to Earth (near opposition) within a few weeks of the date it is also nearest the Sun (perihelion). For example, in August 1971 the disk became as large as 24.9", and in September 1988 it reached 23.8". Less-ideal views come at intervals of about 2 years 2 months, as in May 1999 when it reached 16.2", and in June 2001 when it attained 20.8". Putting August 2003 in perspective, this is one of five chances (at most) in your entire lifetime that you'll see Mars so clearly.
|