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Thu 08 Aug 2003Mars makes closest pass by EarthThe closest Mars-Earth fly-by in 60,000 years is over and we are now pulling away from the Red Planet at about 1,000 miles per day. The two won't be so close together again for another 278 years, writes Dick Ahlstrom, Science EditorMars spotting kept thousands busy last night, hoping for a glimpse given the fact the planet was so "close", a mere 34,646,418 miles away.