A very important appearance

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:23 pm

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.

Post by **FrankM83** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:31 pm

ohhh will be looking forward to that!

Post by **MColes** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:38 pm

I'll certainly be keeping a look out for that

Post by **Dean** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 8:50 pm

Wow thanks for this! I wonder why Mars captivates our imaginations? So many planets to choose from, some gas, some of solid mass but for some reason Mars always stands out from the crowd.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 9:56 pm

Internet hoax I'm afraid, it will get closer, but not as described above, sorry.

Full facts below from NASA

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005 ... rshoax.htm

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:00 pm

It would certainly be incredible if it looked as large as the full moon! Of course - unless it stops raining for 5 minutes - we really won't know!

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 10:43 pm

Dohh, now thats really disapointing MT, came to me as an email from a customer, better let them know the news

Post by **MoggyTech** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:28 pm

jonathon wrote:Dohh, now thats really disapointing MT, came to me as an email from a customer, better let them know the news

Quite a relief actually, if Mars got so close it looked the same size as the Moon, we would have massive floods due to tidal gravity forces.

Post by **jonathon** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:35 pm

Have you looked at the weather were having ??

Post by **Dominic** » Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:43 pm

we would have massive floods due to tidal gravity forces.

and then I'd get me trunnions wet - living so close to the sea!

Post by **MoggyTech** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 9:47 am

jonathon wrote:Have you looked at the weather were having ??

It did cross my mind. Hey we can blame it on the Martians

Post by **bmcecosse** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:59 am

The Martians make trunnions ?? No wonder they take so long to get here.

Post by **jonathon** » Mon Aug 18, 2008 11:53 am

Nurse, he's out of bed again !!!!!!