Mars to come closest to Earth in 15 years next month
Washington, June 18 : Star gazers could have a good view of the Red Planet next month as Mars is set to come to the closest point to Earth since 2003 when it reaches opposition with the Sun in late July.
This year, Mars opposition will occur on July 27, according to NASA.
During opposition, Mars is especially photogenic because it can be seen fully illuminated by the Sun as viewed from Earth.
"Since Mars and the Sun appear on opposite sides of the sky, we say that Mars is in 'opposition'," NASA explained.
Every 15 or 17 years, opposition occurs within a few weeks of Mars' perihelion - the point in its orbit when it is closest to the Sun.
"An opposition can occur anywhere along Mars' orbit. When it happens while the Red Planet is closest to the Sun (called 'perihelic opposition'), Mars is particularly close to Earth," NASA said.
On July 27, Mars will be in perihelic opposition, Express.co.uk reported on Sunday. But some perihelic oppositions bring Earth and Mars closer together than others, the US space agency said.
The 2003 opposition was the closest approach in almost 60,000 years, it added.
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Ex-Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh seriously hurt in stone pelting on his car
Nagpur, Nov 18: Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh was seriously injured after stones were hurled at his car in Nagpur district on Monday night, police said.
The incident occurred around 8 pm when Deshmukh was returning to Katol after attending a meeting in Narkhed village.
Some unidentified persons threw stones at Deshmukh's car near Belphata on the Jalalkheda Road near Katol. Deshmukh, who sustained injuries during the attack, was immediately rushed to the Katol Civil Hospital, police said.
Nagpur Rural Superintendent of Police, Harssh Poddar, confirmed the incident. He said senior officers were rushed to the spot.
"An investigation has begun. Police are trying to identify those responsible for the attack," he said.
The incident occurred on the last day of campaigning for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections.
Deshmukh's son Salil Deshmukh is contesting from the Katol assembly constituency on the NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) ticket against BJP's Charansingh Thakur.
नागपुर के पास काटोल में NCP शरद पवार गुट के नेता अनिल देशमुख पर हुआ हमला#AnilDeshmukh | Anil Deshmukh | #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/Fg16WRa66u
— News24 (@news24tvchannel) November 18, 2024
#BREAKING 🚨 | Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was injured in a stone-pelting attack on Katol-Jalalkheda Road after a rally. His vehicle was damaged, and he received emergency treatment.#AnilDeshmukh #AttackonAnilDeshmukh #Katoljalalkhedaroad #attack pic.twitter.com/5WxQrMxGU0
— Lokmat Times Nagpur (@LokmatTimes_ngp) November 18, 2024
