(no subject)

[groovychk]

Some people are posting a story that Mars will soon be at its closest point to Earth in 50,000 years.

Sorry, but it's not true.

Mars actually made its closest pass to Earth in many centuries in August of 2003. It was quite bright then, but it still looked only like a bright star.

Mars' best showing this year comes in late October and early November.
It will look like a bright orange star, and will briefly shine as the third-brightest object in the night sky after the Moon and the planet Venus.

For August, Mars rises around midnight. It's already quite bright, so it's pretty easy to pick out.