Mars, the enigmatic Red Planet, has long puzzled scientists with a dramatic geological contrast between its hemispheres, known as the Martian dichotomy. The planet’s southern highlands tower five to six kilometers above the smooth,

The sun’s light exerts a tiny force called “solar radiation pressure” on objects in space. Lightweight human-made debris, like hollow rocket parts, gets pushed around more easily, like a tin can in the wind. Natural objects like asteroids are much denser and less affected.

Mars is home to perhaps the greatest mystery of the solar system: the so-called Martian dichotomy, which has baffled scientists since it was discovered in the 1970s.

On Monday night you may have a chance to witness the moon obscuring the Red Planet at its brightest, as well as a comet’s closest approach to the sun.

"it's not completely unusual for asteroids to be near the Earth," Gallagher said. "Our moon is about a quarter million miles away from the Earth. So something 7.6 million miles out would be many, many, many times father away from the Earth than the moon is. No cause for alarm."

Typically, asteroids - like the one depicted in this artist's concept - originate from the main asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars

The Alinda asteroid will be visible with binoculars in a 'once in a decade' event as it brushes past Earth, with its return to the planet not expected until 2087

An asteroid smacking into Mars could eject debris high above the Red Planet. If Deimos and Phobos formed from debris resulting from an asteroid collision on Mars, they must be younger than the Red ...

The asteroid is estimated to be between 656 and 1,443 feet across, and will pass at 16 times the distance to the moon.

Alinda, measuring 2.6 miles wide, will be visible this weekend. Stargazers can spot it using basic equipment or watch a livestream. Events like this occur once in a decade.

The UAE is developing a space craft to land on an asteroid belt beyond Mars.

The case of mistaken identity was quickly resolved, but astronomers say it shows the need for transparency around craft in deep space.