Mars Spectacular
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Mars Spectacular
I don't know if this is true, but............................................... .....
PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOU
MARS SPECTACULAR!
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth
is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest
approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars
may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has
not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long
as 60,000 years before it happens again.
The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest
object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear
25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification
Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will
be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at
10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.
By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise
at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's
pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history.
So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share this with your children and grandchildren.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
PUT THIS ON YOUR CALENDAR FOR YOUR FAMILY AND YOU
MARS SPECTACULAR!
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month and next, Earth
is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest
approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars
may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on
Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has
not come this close to Earth in the Last 5,000 years, but it may be as long
as 60,000 years before it happens again.
The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within
34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest
object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear
25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification
Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye. Mars will
be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at
10p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.
By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise
at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30a.m. That's
pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history.
So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.
Share this with your children and grandchildren.
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Thread Starter
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
Yep. I just got that in my email and decided to post it here.
I wasn't sure if it had any validity to it.
I figured it didn't. If it did, you would think it'd be on the news or something.
I wasn't sure if it had any validity to it.
I figured it didn't. If it did, you would think it'd be on the news or something.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
I hate to pop the bubble, but it was a mis-quote by someone.
See this link-
http://space.about.com/od/astronomyn...lose2005_2.htm
The previous page asked: "What about the EMAIL?" And this was the response.
Oops, oh well. It would have been cool...
See this link-
http://space.about.com/od/astronomyn...lose2005_2.htm
The previous page asked: "What about the EMAIL?" And this was the response.
Oops, oh well. It would have been cool...
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 471
Likes: 0
From: Goldsboro, NC
The best viewing of Mars this year will still be this fall. Mars won't be as close as a couple years ago. Only professional or very serious amateur astronomers would be able to tell the difference between this year and 2 years ago anyway. As far as the size Mars appears. I think they mean that Mars magnified 75x would be as big as looking at the full moon with the naked eye. Not sure about that. Comparing naked eye viewing to looking through an eyepiece is like comparing apples to oranges. Mars will still be small. 75x is not really a modest magnification either. You need a decent telescope with at least a 4" aperture to have any clarity. A Kmart special ain't going to get it.
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