[(Title)] Mars making closest approach to Earth in 15 years.

Now's the time to catch Mars in the night sky.

在夜空中观察火星的好时机到了。

Next week, the red planet is making its closest approach to Earth in 15 years.

本周，这个红色星球正处于近15年来距离地球最近的一次。

The two planets will be just 35.8 million miles apart next Tuesday. And on Friday, Mars will be in opposition. That means Mars and the sun will be on exact opposite sides of us.

这两个行星在本周二的的距离只有3,580万英里，而上周五，火星和太阳将与地球处于一条直线上。

Mars is already brighter than usual and will shine even more — and appear bigger — as Tuesday approaches. Astronomers expect good viewing through early August.

火星已经比往常更加明亮，而随着周二的到来，它将显得更大。天文学家预计8月初能够很好地观测火星。

A massive dust storm at Mars, however, is obscuring normally visible surface details.

然而,火星上巨大的尘暴却掩盖了通常可见的地表细节。

In 2003, Mars and Earth were the closest in nearly 60,000 years.

2003年，火星与地球的距离是近6万年来最接近的一次。