MARS VISIT
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month & next Earth is
catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest
approach between the 2 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 &
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 & will be (next to the
moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude
of -2.9 & will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75- power
magnivication 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 & reach its azimuth at about 3am. By the end of August when
the 2 planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall & 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 & brighter
throughout the month. Also, read the full story at:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/27May_approachingmars.htm?list743985
The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month & next Earth is
catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest
approach between the 2 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 &
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 & will be (next to the
moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude
of -2.9 & will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75- power
magnivication 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 & reach its azimuth at about 3am. By the end of August when
the 2 planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall & 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 & brighter
throughout the month. Also, read the full story at:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/27May_approachingmars.htm?list743985
