FatNakedGuy
Well-known member
MARS SPECTACULAR!
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! 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.
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. 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 obje! ct! 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.
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
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! 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.
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. 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 obje! ct! 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.
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