Mars shines as it swings by for a close visit

Now is the time to wave to our neighbor in the solar system.

Mars is currently brighter than usual and closer to Earth than it has been in years.

On Sunday the sun and Mars will be on directly opposite sides of the Earth, a phenomenon called opposition that happens about every 26 months.

Also, the Red Planet’s orbit is more elliptical that Earth’s so periodically it comes closer to us, and this is the week when it will be most prominent in the night sky. On Memorial Day, May 30, Mars will be just 47.4 million miles away. That’s the closest the two worlds have been in 11 years. Close approaches between Earth and Mars can range from 35 million to to 63 million miles.

For perspective, the sun is 93 million miles from Earth.

The combination of opposition and proximity will make for a good show.

“Mars is especially photogenic during opposition because it can be seen fully illuminated by the sun as viewed from Earth,” according to NASA’s website.

Mars can be seen with the unaided eye, but a backyard telescope will reveal more. Go to space.com for more information.

Mars currently rises in the eastern sky as the sun sets in the west. Then Mars will set in the west as the sun rises in the east.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 11:23 AM with the headline "Mars shines as it swings by for a close visit."