This is the closest approach since 2003 when Mars was 34 million miles away - the closest in 60,000 years. 'When Mars and Earth are close to each other, Mars appears very bright in our sky. 'The Red Planet comes close enough for exceptional viewing only once or twice every 15 or 17 years' and the next close approach is in 2035. There are three spaceships from Earth currently on their way to Mars - NASA's Perseverance rover, China's Mars lander and orbiter and the UAE Hope Mars probe. They are all due to arrive at the Red Planet in February 2021 and will provide Earth-based scientists with a plethora of new information.

Source: Daily Mail October 06, 2020 13:36 UTC