What makes the view of Mars in the summer of 2003 so spectacular?
A)There were huge dust storms that made the planet appear much brighter than usual.
B)The feature known as Olympus Mons erupted spewing ash into the Martian atmosphere.
C)Mars had an angular size comparable to the full Moon.
D)Mars was both at perihelion and opposition, creating the perfect viewing conditions fromEarth.
E)Earth's atmosphere was amazingly clear everywhere for months making the view ofspectacular Mars available to everyone.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In the summer of 2003, Mars was both at perihelion (closest point to the Sun in its orbit) and at opposition (Earth was directly between Mars and the Sun), which made Mars appear larger and brighter in the sky, creating perfect viewing conditions from Earth.

What Makes the View of Mars in the Summer of 2003