... For billions of years, massive stars in our Milky Way Galaxy have lived spectacular lives. ... Mars Rising Behind Elephant Rock . ... Yesterday, at about 10 am Universal Time, Mars and Earth passed closer than in nearly 60,000 years. ... At about 10 am Universal Time today, Mars and Earth will pass closer than in nearly 60,000 years. ... Tonight and over the next few days, when Mars is at its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years, you might get your best view ever of our planetary...