Two Moons in the August Sky...

 

Starting in August, Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.  This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history.

 

At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.  By the end of August when Earth and Mars are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within  34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

 

On August 27th. It will look like the Earth has two moons!

 

The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.