I got this email from my brother recently, and the local paper actually talked about it on
its front page.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Fram
I meant the difference between the closest approach in a 'normal' year and the closest approach this time around (well, in 2003). Of course, when Mars is on the far side (insert Gary Larson cartoon here), it's a wee bit smaller
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Depends.
The Earth gets close to Mars about every two years and two months, about when Mars is in opposition to the Sun. For the six close approaches before that one in August of 2003, they were a lot farther. The closest of the six was 21% farther, and the farthest was 81% farther--nearly twice as far.
Real close approaches to Mars only happen every 15 or 17 years, so 2003 was a bit of a treat.