When the earth is at perihelion, it is having its closest encounter with this
.... 
After the initial encounter, Sgt Maclachlan, who has starred in the... [DOC] [TLE] Guide to Mars' opposition on May 22 | Astronomy Essentials | EarthSky [PAR] May 1, 2016 ... Earth flies between Mars and sun on May 22, bringing it closer than Mars has 
been in over a decade.