Minimum Distance Between Earth & Mars: Analytic Calc

Click For Summary
The minimum distance between Earth and Mars during their orbits is approximately 55.7 million kilometers, calculated by subtracting Mars' perihelion from Earth's semi-major axis. For a more accurate value, factors such as Earth's orbital eccentricity and the relative orientation of their elliptical orbits need to be considered. The discussion highlights the complexity of the calculation if the orbits are not coplanar. Additionally, the question of whether this minimum distance applies to the next 100 years or geological timescales is raised. Understanding these distances is crucial for planning future space missions and studies.
deltasata
Messages
1
Reaction score
0
What is the minimum distance between Earth and Mars in course of their rotation in orbits?
I need the derivation and analytic calculation.
If we assume the plane of rotation is different for Earth and mars, the problem become to complicated. So the orbits may be assumed co-planner.Please provide me some useful links...
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org


The minimal distance when? Within the next 100 years, or within geological timescales?

55.7 million km

You get a rough approximation by subtracting mars' perihelion and Earth's semi-major axis:
Earth 149,598,261 km
Mars 206,669,000 km
Difference 57 million km.

A better value would require to look at Earth's eccentricity and the relative orientation of the ellipses.
 

Thread 'Luminous Fast Blue Optical Transients (LFBOTs)'

UC Berkely, December 16, 2025 https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/12/16/whats-powering-these-mysterious-bright-blue-cosmic-flashes-astronomers-find-a-clue/ AT 2024wpp, a luminous fast blue optical transient, or LFBOT, is the bright blue spot at the upper right edge of its host galaxy, which is 1.1 billion light-years from Earth in (or near) a galaxy far, far away. Such objects are very bright (obiously) and very energetic. The article indicates that AT 2024wpp had a peak luminosity of 2-4 x...
View full post »

Similar threads

Graduate Mars as Second Earth: Slowing Down Its Orbit
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
4K
Undergrad Is Late Water Flow on Mars Linked to Climate Change or Permafrost Melting?
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
High School Distance between the Earth and The Moon
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
How to Calculate the Distance Between Mars and Earth?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
Finding the Optimal Time to Launch a Mission to Mars
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
Undergrad Is a superflare capable of changing a planets orbit?
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
3K
Undergrad New Developments In The Search For Planet X
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Undergrad Variations in Sun-Earth distance with a 2000-year cycle?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
6K
Undergrad A New Idea for the Origin of Earth's Water
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Calculating distance of Mars from the Sun based on two elongations
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
1K