Table 1. 2005 Opposition of Mars
Date Earth-Mars Distance* Closest 2005 Oct. 30, 3h UT
(Oct. 29, 11:00 p.m. EDT)0.464 AU
69,420,000 km
43,140,000 miOpposition 2005 Nov. 07, 8h UT
(Nov. 7, 3:00 a.m. EST)0.470 AU
70,240,000 km
43,650,000 mi
*1 AU is essentially the mean distance between Sun and Earth
(about 93,000,000 mi or 150,000,000 km).
Note: Mars is not necessarily at its closest distance from Earth when opposite the Sun on the sky
since planetary orbits do not exactly lie in the same plane.
Go to AAC Mars 2005 Special Public Event Page
Last Update July 27, 2005