Mars Spectacular-August 27, 2005

[Buzzworthy]

MARS SPECTACULAR!
>
>The Red Planet 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. 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 it will rise in the east at
>10p.m. and
>reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m.
>
>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

[Below Zero]

Thanks for sharing. I dig Astronomy. I will make sure I check this out!

[spanky]

Maybe not... http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

[Tippster]

Maybe not... http://www.snopes.com/science/mars.asp

Those BASTARDS! Is there no limit to their cruelty?

[bklyn]

Sky and Telescope sends out a nice email bulletin on celestial events and what's happening in the night sky.
http://skyandtelescope.com/shopatsky/emailsubscribe.asp

[SkiingBear]

...Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye...

Regardless of whether the rest of the article is true or not, this will never happen...unless Mars ends up parked in the Pacific, then it might look that big on it's way in.

[Mountain Junkie]

Regardless of whether the rest of the article is true or not, this will never happen...unless Mars ends up parked in the Pacific, then it might look that big on it's way in.

You missed the first part of that sentence. Not like it matters...

[Buzzworthy]

Regardless of whether the rest of the article is true or not, this will never happen...unless Mars ends up parked in the Pacific, then it might look that big on it's way in.

Just sharing what I found, I did not write it. I plan to take a gander with my telescope anyway.

[Powder Seeker]

Thanks for the info, this is definitely something I will watch for.