Mars Visit

[Grrilla]

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

 

[BrandonG]

Amazing. So we will be able to see mars without a telescope of some sort?

 

[StudioWorks]

Would be very interesting :D

 

[LeeRyder]

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.

ohhh... not true not true!! lol

not to be devisive, but scientist speculate that mars' orbital patterns used to bring it between the Earth and Moon at certain points in history (yes, that close!) and may be the ultimate cause of the Biblical flood.

also to note: it is the major reason why most ancient major metropolotins were built well above the tidal flows.. to allow for the Marsian tidal flows

 

[.X.]

Thats awesome, except i wont be alive in 2287

Me neither

 

[liam_d]

read it, it will be as large as the moon it says wooo :D

 

[Grrilla]

Thats awesome, except i wont be alive in 2287

Nothing to complain about, unless you're looking for some proof or assurance that double dipping will be allowed. :lol: Hopefully, we'll all be alive this summer, but no guarantees, (expressed or implied).

ohhh... not true not true!! lol

Lee, Lee, Lee...
the closest approach between the 2 planets in recorded history.In otherwords, there has been no recorded history of this occurring, and if there is, it would only be speculation as to how close the encounter was.
The gist of this is that Mars will be close. Incidentally, Saturn put on quite a show this year, as it rose in the late night/early morning sky, (from my vantage point). The first time I saw it, I swore it was a jet that was landing- red/bluish lights across the horizon- but it wasn't moving, (fast enough).

 

[spy69]

lol sounds cool as long as i dont forget.

 

[LeeRyder]

ya grrlla.. sorry i forgot to put in there (even though I was thinking it lol) "in ancient times" :P

 

[kiranbedi]

very interesting.

 

[-db-]

Fascinating article. I love reading and learning more about this stuff.

Thats awesome, except i wont be alive in 2287

Well, perhaps we can all be cryogenically frozen, and then revived later.

 

[dgridley]

Thanks.. great info!