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Mars Creeps Closer to Earth in Boon to Astronomers

By the end of August, Mars will come as close to Earth as it has for 60,000 years, though it's still 35-million miles away. Mars will be brighter in the sky, giving amateur astronomers and NASA alike a rare opportunity to study a cosmic neighbor. Hear NPR's Linda Wertheimer and Sky and Telescope magazine editor Kelly Beatty.

Copyright 2003 NPR

As NPR's senior national correspondent, Linda Wertheimer travels the country and the globe for NPR News, bringing her unique insights and wealth of experience to bear on the day's top news stories.