Opposition is upon us

Six days before Christmas Eve, Mars will be in oppostion to Earth, being only 54.8 million miles away. This is the closet it gest to Earth's orbit in a two year period. Earth is able to catch up to Mars, which is moving slower because it is in its longer orbit around the sun. Eart will be between the sun and Mars, making Mars and sun in opposition in the sky. In 2003 Earth and Mars were the closet they have ever been in the 60,000 years recorded rhistory. Mars will be rising as the sun sets on Christmas Eve. Next time it will be as close as it was in 2003 will be in 2050.