Why was the summer of 2003 a fine time for Mars observers?
A) The Mars Rovers returned live images from the surface.
B) The skies were unusually clear and calm.
C) Mars' north pole was tilted to face the Earth head-on.
D) Mars was closer to us than it has been in over 50,000 years.
E) Mars was even brighter than Venus for several weeks.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The summer of 2003 was a fine time for Mars observers because Mars was closer to us than it has been in over 50,000 years, making it appear significantly larger and brighter in the sky. This is known as a perihelic opposition, and it occurs when Earth and Mars are on the same side of the Sun, with Mars being closer to the Sun than Earth.

Why Was the Summer of 2003 a Fine Time for Mars