NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN.

{OF}Malicious Assault · 07-07-2005, 09:08 AM

The Red Planet (MARS) 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. By August 27, 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.

Ker · 07-07-2005, 09:19 AM

Put it in my Palm!

Soul · 07-07-2005, 10:13 AM

Very cool!

d-fragger · 07-07-2005, 11:59 AM

I'll keep an eye on the sky for it.

They should have held off on the release of War of the Worlds until Mars was really close.

GunSatin · 07-07-2005, 12:51 PM

Yeah should be great, GunCrystal and I had amazing luck 2 years ago when it was i closest n 60000 years or whatever it was as part of a planetarium thingy, we got to use the most high-powered telescope in Ottawa at th science museum's observatory to look right in on it. probably never match that view again in my life but my dad is getting a telescope for his 50th B-day so Ill get a good view anyhow I hope1

dudio · 07-07-2005, 02:20 PM

Cool post MA.

I have a telescope waiting for me at my folks' house.
My mom wanted me to set it up for the kids here,
plus I told her it could be good for scoping the single babes.

... will have to get it for Mars

{OF}Barney_B · 07-07-2005, 10:42 PM

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

Don't mean to poop on your parade but that's a tough one to swallow.

{OF}RKT · 07-07-2005, 10:58 PM

This is the time I wish I didn't live in a big city and owned a telescope...

{OF}Barney_B · 07-07-2005, 11:06 PM

OK, sorry to be the downer here but I've heard a rumor that the email giving information concerning the closest approach of Mars in centuries had resurfaced for some unknown reason. I'm sure that MA took it on good faith that it was current but be assured that the information posted was good for 27 Aug 2003 not 2005. On 27 Aug 2005, Mars will be approximately magnitude -0.94 and have an angular diameter of 14 arc seconds.

Just for gee-whiz, the moon's angular (apparent) diameter is measured in arc minutes and will be about 30 on 27 Aug 2005.

ilikemittens · 07-08-2005, 12:25 AM

I heard it resurfaced because it's going to be close again, but not as close as it was in 2003. I got this e-mail from a few people. "Photo opportunity!!!" hehe... thanks for sharing though MA!