MARS!

UPDATE: See the latest on the incredibly successful Mission to Mars with the Mars Exploration Rovers. Mars' closest approach to Earth was on August 27, 2003. Through August, Mars brightened until it "blazed forth against the dark background of space with a splendor that outshines Sirius and rivals the giant Jupiter himself." Astronomer Percival Lowell, who famously mapped the canals of Mars, wrote those words to describe the planet during a similar close encounter in the 19th century.

MARS - CLOSEST ENCOUNTER See the latest Hubble photos

Photo by Thomas Williamson showing Mars' melting ice cap.

Earth and Mars were the closest we'll see. On August 27, 2003, the date of closest approach, the two worlds were 56 million km apart. That's a long way by Earth standards, but only a short distance on the scale of the solar system.

The appearance of Mars has became so big that even a backyard telescope showed details on the planet's surface: dust clouds, volcanic terrains, impact basins. Best of all is the polar ice cap. The southern hemisphere of Mars tipped toward Earth and its bright southern cap, which reflects more sunlight than any other part of the planet, was remarkably easy to see.
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» Latest Mars Mission News

» NASA Headlines - read more here...

» Mars Dust...Using only backyard telescopes, amateur astronomers are enjoying great views of dust clouds on Mars

» Harvesting Mars - A NASA-supported scientist is learning how to use carbon dioxide--the main gas in Mars' atmosphere--to harvest rocket fuel and water from the red planet.

» A Closer Look at Mars - Not recent, but fun...