Don_Kiddick
15-07-2005, 22:38
Had this email from a friend in Canada, I expect we will be able to witness this too...
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.
The Red Planet (MARS) 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.
By August 27, 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
10pm and reach its azimuth at about 3am.
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 12:30am.
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.
:thumbsup:
NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.
The Red Planet (MARS) 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.
By August 27, 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
10pm and reach its azimuth at about 3am.
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 12:30am.
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.
:thumbsup: