Mars at closest point in 60,000 years

Programs & Series | MPR News Feature |
August 27, 2003
Jim Bickal - Reporter
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If you were awake and looking into the southern sky at exactly 4:51 this morning, you saw the planet Mars at its closest point to the Earth in nearly 60-thousand years. The planet is about 34.6 million miles away, making it the brightest spot in the night sky right now. Many Minnesota astronomers... and some regular people... have been getting up the past few weeks to view the planet. Dr. Bill Sheehan is the author of two books and numerous papers about Mars. He joins us now.

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