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Current mood: Bob Belcher saying ‘oh my god’

Truth

The innermost D ring of Saturn.

Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute

Proxima Centauri, The Closest Star

Zodiac Sagittarius biggest fears. For much more on the zodiac signs, click here.

The Great Red Spot

Mars gears up for its closest approach to Earth in over a decade

“Relative to the stars in the sky, planets generally move slightly towards the east from night-to-night. But beginning tonight, Mars will move to the west, commencing retrograde motion, which continues until June 30th. This isn’t due to Mars changing its motion, but rather to Earth, orbiting inner to Mars, overtaking it due to Earth’s faster path around the Sun.”

Every two years, Earth passes Mars in orbit, as the inner, faster world overtakes the outer one. This year, it happens when Earth approaches aphelion, its farthest point from the Sun, while Mars approaches perihelion, or its closest approach. On May 30th, the two worlds pass within just 0.51 A.U. (76 million km) of one another, their closest encounter since 2005. While Mars will still appear as no more than a point to unaided human vision, telescopes will provide absolutely spectacular views during the next three months. If you miss it, you’ll have to wait two years for views this good, and then you won’t get them again until 2035.

Go get the whole story – and some amazing pictures – to start your week off right!