During August 2003, the planet Mars will pass closest to Earth during the last 60,000 years. Don't expect the War of the Worlds even in this 65th anniversary year of that 1938 radio broadcast by Orson Wells.

Someday humans will probably reach the surface of the planet. The huge Olympic Mons volcano will be climbed sometime in the centuries after that. Humans want to explore, to travel, to return with stories of those adventures.

Our summer neighbor inspires people to discuss new ideas as the influence of the red planet waxes and wanes in the heavens.

Don