Mars Update Mars makes its closest pass to Earth in nearly 60,000 years on August 27, brushing past at 34.6 million miles (55.8 million kilometers), measured from each planet's center. The red planet will look like a bright star, with a yellow-orange hue, in the evening through the end of September.

Mars, which moves in a noncircular orbit, reaches its closest point to the sun just as Earth laps the red planet at 5:51 a.m. EDT. Mars will not be as close until 2287. (cnn.com)  ¶ 8/27/2003 11:21:00 AM