bodypilot90 0 #1 July 26, 2003 Never again in your lifetime will the Red Planet be so spectacular! This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars, 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 maybe as long as 60,000 years. The encounters will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles 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 Mars will rise in the east at 10 pm and reach its azimuth at about 3 am. By the end of August when the two planets are the closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach it’s highest point in the sky at 12:30 am. That’s pretty convenient when it comes to seeing something that no human 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 with your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see this again..!! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D22369 0 #2 July 26, 2003 Share with your children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews. NO ONE ALIVE TODAY will ever see this again..!! ---> sezzzz U..............I am gonna live 4ever Roy Ps: it will be interesting to sit out with the kids telescope and look at the darned thing...They say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingnut 0 #3 July 26, 2003 ya know this sorta freaks me out... ya ever seen "maximum overdrive"???? well soit was a comet in that movie but maybe mars could do that to........ ______________________________________ "i have no reader's digest version" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jtval 0 #4 July 26, 2003 chiles truck is gonna take over the world!My photos My Videos Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2fat2fly 0 #5 July 26, 2003 Quotechiles truck is gonna take over the world! Aggie Dave's would; but since he did his own alignment, it'll only run over people on the left hand side of the road.I'll admit that I'm just jealous that I can't do stuff like thatI am not the man. But the man knows my name...and he's worried Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowbird 0 #6 July 26, 2003 Mars is awesome right now. I was checking it out last night as it rose over the horizon. Wow. I have GOT to lay my hands on a good telescope this summer. Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. -Robert A. Heinlein Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
