Mars makes a rare close approach to the Earth this weekend

The Red Planet will come to within 43.1 million miles of Earth in the early hours of Sunday, appearing as a brilliant fiery yellow point of light in the eastern sky. It will not be as near again until 2018. The planet will be visible much higher in the night sky than on the last close approach, in August 2003, when &to=http://english.pravda.ru/society/2001/06/14/7641.html' target=_blank>Mars was just 34.6 million miles away. Its light will therefore be less interrupted by the Earth's atmosphere, providing a sharper, clearer image, informs Scotsman.